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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Women Make History

In Galleries Seven, Eight and Nine

Well behaved women seldom make history, as the saying goes, and the National Portrait Gallery, consequently, is full of awesome Australian women who refused to conform to narrow ideas about their place and their worth.

More information on Women Make History

Portraits on display

Helena Rubinstein in a red brocade Balenciaga gown

Helena Rubinstein in a red brocade Balenciaga gown, 1957 Graham Sutherland. © Estate of Graham Sutherland

Collection display in Gallery Eight, March 2022

Collection display in Gallery Eight, March 2022

Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily

Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily, 1993 Jenny Sages. © Jenny Sages

Chrissy Amphlett

Chrissy Amphlett "Temperamental", 1989 Ivan Durrant. © Ivan Durrant/Copyright Agency, 2023

Lindy Lee

Lindy Lee, 2003 Greg Weight. © Gregory Weight/Copyright Agency, 2024

Mirka by Mirka

Mirka by Mirka, 2000 Mirka Mora. © Mirka Mora/Copyright Agency, 2023

Potters' Portrait Pot

Potters' Portrait Pot, 2009 Hermannsburg Potters, Irene Mbitjana Entata, Virginia Mbitjana Rontji, Lindy Panangka Rontji, Rahel Kngwarria Ungwanaka, Rona Panangka Rubuntja, Dawn Ngala Wheeler, Judith Pungarta Inkamala, Anita Ratara Mbitjana, Hayley Panangka Coulthard, Clara Ngala Inkamala. © Hermannsburg Potters Aboriginal Corporation

Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch

Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, 2000 Australian Tapestry Workshop, Merrill Dumbrell, Christopher Pyett, Normana Wight. © Australian Tapestry Workshop

Dorothy Porter

Dorothy Porter, 2001-2002 Rick Amor. © Rick Amor/Copyright Agency, 2022

Dame Judith Anderson

Dame Judith Anderson, 1962 Don Bachardy. © Don Bachardy

Robyn Archer

Robyn Archer, 1990 George Gittoes AM. © George Gittoes/Copyright Agency, 2022

Annette Kellerman

Annette Kellerman, c. 1907 (printed 2003) H. Walter Barnett

Nancy Wake - The White Mouse

Nancy Wake - The White Mouse, 2001 Melissa Beowulf. © Melissa Beowulf/Copyright Agency, 2023

The sitter (Drusilla Modjeska)

The sitter (Drusilla Modjeska), 2001 Jo Bertini. © Jo Bertini

Joan Croll

Joan Croll, 1976 John Brack. © Helen Brack

image not online

Elizabeth Reid, 1989 Jenny Darling

Dame Elizabeth Couchman

Dame Elizabeth Couchman, n.d. Aileen Dent. © Estate of Aileen Dent

The Honourable Chief Justice Susan Kiefel AC

The Honourable Chief Justice Susan Kiefel AC, 2018 Yvonne East. © Yvonne East/Copyright Agency, 2023

Carlotta, Kings Cross (Les Girls)

Carlotta, Kings Cross (Les Girls), 1970-1971 Rennie Ellis. © Rennie Ellis Photographic Archive
www.RennieEllis.com.au

Portrait of Deborah Vernon Hackett

Portrait of Deborah Vernon Hackett, c. 1905 Florence Ada Fuller

Marcia Langton

Marcia Langton, 2013 Juno Gemes. © Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2022

Mum Shirl (Mrs Shirley Smith)

Mum Shirl (Mrs Shirley Smith), 1988 Juno Gemes. © Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2022

Portrait of Jill Neville

Portrait of Jill Neville, 1967 (completed 1997) Reginald Gray. © Reginald Gray

Senator Nancy Buttfield

Senator Nancy Buttfield, 1958 Sir Ivor Hele. © Estate of Ivor Hele

Portrait of Anne Summers

Portrait of Anne Summers, 1974 Carol Jerrems. © Ken Jerrems and the Estate of Lance Jerrems

Portrait of Anne Summers

Portrait of Anne Summers, 1974 Carol Jerrems. © Ken Jerrems and the Estate of Lance Jerrems

Cathy Freeman

Cathy Freeman, 1999 Kerrie Lester. © Kerrie Lester/Copyright Agency, 2024

Margaret Fink

Margaret Fink, 1989 Kerrie Lester. © Kerrie Lester/Copyright Agency, 2024

image not online

Portrait of Dame Roma Mitchell, 1940s Geoffrey Mainwaring

Portrait bust of Dr Christine Rivett

Portrait bust of Dr Christine Rivett, c. 1950 (cast 1955-1956) Daphne Mayo MBE. © Estate of Daphne Mayo

Evonne Goolagong

Evonne Goolagong, 1973 Ern McQuillan OAM. © Michael McQuillan's Classic Photographs

Professor Penny Sackett, astronomer and physicist

Professor Penny Sackett, astronomer and physicist, 2011 Andrew Mezei. © Andrew Mezei

Portrait of Susan Crennan

Portrait of Susan Crennan, 2017 Lewis Miller. © Lewis Miller/Copyright Agency, 2023

Germaine Greer

Germaine Greer, 1988 Jacqueline Mitelman. © Jacqueline Mitelman

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Fay Zwicky, c. 1981 (printed 2018) Jacqueline Mitelman

Hilary McPhee

Hilary McPhee, 2015 Jacqueline Mitelman. © Jacqueline Mitelman

Lily Brett

Lily Brett, n.d. (printed 2021) Jacqueline Mitelman. © Jacqueline Mitelman

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Kylie Tennant, early 1980s (printed 2018) Jacqueline Mitelman

Self portrait with Bottlebrush

Self portrait with Bottlebrush, 1991 Margaret Olley AC. © Margaret Olley Art Trust

Michelle Simmons

Michelle Simmons, 2018 Selina Ou. © Selina Ou

Portrait of Patricia Piccinini

Portrait of Patricia Piccinini, 2019 Allissa Oughtred. © Allissa Oughtred

Susan Norrie

Susan Norrie, 1990 Anne Zahalka. © Anne Zahalka/Copyright Agency, 2022

Linda and Binni

Linda and Binni, 1984 (printed 2013) Michael Riley. © Michael Riley/Copyright Agency, 2022

Professor Suzanne Cory AC FAA FRS

Professor Suzanne Cory AC FAA FRS, 2016 Raelene Sharp. © Raelene Sharp

Kondelea (Della) Elliott

Kondelea (Della) Elliott, 1979 Ivy Shore. © Estate of Ivy Shore

Social currency (Eva Cox)

Social currency (Eva Cox), 1999 Kim Spooner. © Kim Spooner

Gaby Kennard

Gaby Kennard, 2020 Lisa Tomasetti. © Lisa Tomasetti

Dame Mary Gilmore

Dame Mary Gilmore, c. 1938 Lyall Trindall. © Estate of Lyall Trindall

Dame Enid Lyons

Dame Enid Lyons, c. 1943 Justine Kong Sing

Mary Windeyer

Mary Windeyer, 1850s an unknown artist

Margaret Anderson

Margaret Anderson, 1942 Napier Waller CMG OBE. © Estate of Napier Waller

Lieutenant Colonel Kathleen A. L. Best

Lieutenant Colonel Kathleen A. L. Best, 1943-1944 Charles Wheeler. © Estate of Charles Wheeler

Judy Davis

Judy Davis, 1981 William Yang. © William Yang

Louise Sauvage

Louise Sauvage, 1996 (printed 1999) Montalbetti + Campbell. © Montalbetti & Campbell

Tan Le

Tan Le, 2018 John Tsiavis. © John Tsiavis

Marea Gazzard

Marea Gazzard, 1966 Judy Cassab AO CBE. © Judy Cassab/Copyright Agency, 2023

Dr Stella Cornelius AO OBE

Dr Stella Cornelius AO OBE, 1989 Judy Cassab AO CBE. © Judy Cassab/Copyright Agency, 2023

Self portrait

Self portrait, 2006 Judy Cassab AO CBE. © Judy Cassab/Copyright Agency, 2023

Nancy Bird Walton

Nancy Bird Walton, c. 1973 Judy Cassab AO CBE. © Judy Cassab/Copyright Agency, 2024

Lady [Hannah] Lloyd Jones

Lady [Hannah] Lloyd Jones, 1970 Judy Cassab AO CBE. © Judy Cassab/Copyright Agency, 2023

Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary (future Queen Elizabeth II)

Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary (future Queen Elizabeth II), 1942-1943 Charles Wheeler. © Estate of Charles Wheeler

Gwyn Hanssen Pigott

Gwyn Hanssen Pigott, 2013 (cast 2016) Willow Legge. © Willow Legge

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Kylie Minogue 2, 2018 (printed 2020) Nicole Bentley

Kate (Kate Grenville)

Kate (Kate Grenville), 2012 Jenny Sages. © Jenny Sages

True Stories - Helen Garner

True Stories - Helen Garner, 2003 Jenny Sages. © Jenny Sages

Betsy Napangardi Lewis

Betsy Napangardi Lewis, 2007 Greg Weight. © Gregory Weight/Copyright Agency, 2022

Rosalie Gascoigne

Rosalie Gascoigne, 1993 Greg Weight. © Gregory Weight/Copyright Agency, 2022

Dorothy Robinson Napangardi

Dorothy Robinson Napangardi, 2010 Greg Weight. © Gregory Weight/Copyright Agency, 2022

Carla Zampatti

Carla Zampatti, 2015 Georges Antoni. © Georges Antoni

Maggie Tabberer

Maggie Tabberer, 2015 Alana Landsberry. © Bauer Media Pty Ltd

Oodgeroo of the Noonuccal Tribe

Oodgeroo of the Noonuccal Tribe, 1992 (printed 2009) George Fetting. © George Fetting/Copyright Agency, 2023

Missy Higgins

Missy Higgins, 2004 Julian Kingma. © Julian Kingma

Portrait sketch of Nellie Melba

Portrait sketch of Nellie Melba, 1902 Hugh Ramsay

Frances Alda

Frances Alda, 1918 Herman Mishkin

Dame Joan Sutherland

Dame Joan Sutherland, c. 1977 Robert Hannaford AM. © Robert Hannaford/Copyright Agency, 2022

Florence Austral

Florence Austral, c. 1930 Howard Barron. © Estate of Howard Barron

Florrie Forde the Original Singer of

Florrie Forde the Original Singer of "Tipperary", c. 1910 an unknown artist

Portrait of Ruth Cracknell as the Sibyl

Portrait of Ruth Cracknell as the Sibyl, 1995 Rosemary Valadon. © Rosemary Valadon

Shahleena Musk

Shahleena Musk, c. 2000 Penny Tweedie. © Estate of Penny Tweedie

Jacki Weaver

Jacki Weaver, 2018 John Tsiavis. © John Tsiavis

Pam Burridge

Pam Burridge, c. 1985 (printed 2011) Lorrie Graham. © Lorrie Graham

Faith Bandler

Faith Bandler, 2006 Julie Edgar. © Julie Edgar

Fiona Stanley

Fiona Stanley, 2011 Mary Moore. © Mary Moore

Self Portrait in a Brown Coat

Self Portrait in a Brown Coat, 1936 Christine A. Pecket

Study for self portrait

Study for self portrait, c. 1965 Jean Appleton. © Estate of Jean Appleton

Self portrait

Self portrait, 1948 Grace Cossington Smith OBE. © Estate of Grace Cossington Smith

After Jack

After Jack, 2012 Jenny Sages. © Jenny Sages

Rosie Batty

Rosie Batty, 2017 Nikki Toole. © Nikki Toole

Bonita Mabo

Bonita Mabo, 1994 (printed 2011) Lorrie Graham. © Lorrie Graham

Her Excellency Marjorie Jackson-Nelson AC CVO MBE

Her Excellency Marjorie Jackson-Nelson AC CVO MBE, 2006 Avril Thomas. © Commonwealth of Australia

Kay Cottee

Kay Cottee, 1993 Pamela Thalben-Ball

Dawn Fraser

Dawn Fraser, 1998 (printed 2001) Peter Brew-Bevan. © Peter Brew-Bevan

Lee Lin Chin

Lee Lin Chin, 2004 (printed 2021) George Fetting. © George Fetting/Copyright Agency, 2022

Portrait of Heidi Middleton and Sarah-Jane Clarke (Sass & Bide)

Portrait of Heidi Middleton and Sarah-Jane Clarke (Sass & Bide), 2008 Deborah Paauwe. © Deborah Paauwe

Portrait of a lady (Sonia McMahon)

Portrait of a lady (Sonia McMahon), 1999 Esther Erlich. © Esther Erlich

Mary Chomley

Mary Chomley, 1909 Violet Teague

Jill Ker Conway

Jill Ker Conway, 1987 Sarah Belchetz-Swenson. © Estate of Sarah Belchetz-Swenson

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© National Portrait Gallery 2024
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

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