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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.

Heads of the People

A Portrait of Colonial Australia

For Tom Roberts - Australia's best nineteenth-century portrait painter - neither a proto-national portrait gallery nor more popular collections of portrait heads, were sufficient public celebrations for the notables of Australian history

More information on Heads of the People

Selected images

13 images
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Bungaree, late chief of the Broken Bay tribe, Sydney
Bungaree, late chief of the Broken Bay tribe, Sydney, 1836 William Fernyhough
Boardman, Lake Macquarie tribe
Boardman, Lake Macquarie tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough
Tommy, Broken Bay tribe
Tommy, Broken Bay tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough
Toby, Broken Bay tribe
Toby, Broken Bay tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough
Mickie, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle tribe
Mickie, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough
Jemmy, Newcastle tribe
Jemmy, Newcastle tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough
Cullabaa, native of Lake George, Five Islands tribe
Cullabaa, native of Lake George, Five Islands tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough
Mary, Botany Bay tribe
Mary, Botany Bay tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough
Piper, the native who accompanied Major Mitchell in his expedition to the interior of N.S.W.
Piper, the native who accompanied Major Mitchell in his expedition to the interior of N.S.W., 1836 William Fernyhough
Punch, wife of Cullabaa, Broken Bay tribe
Punch, wife of Cullabaa, Broken Bay tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough
Bill Worrall, Five Islands tribe
Bill Worrall, Five Islands tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough
Gooseberry, widow of King Bungaree
Gooseberry, widow of King Bungaree, 1836 William Fernyhough
Portrait of George Selth Coppin
Portrait of George Selth Coppin, c. 1895-1899 Tom Roberts
13 images
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King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
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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 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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