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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.

First Ladies

Significant Australian Women 1913–2013

First Ladies profiles women who have achieved noteworthy firsts over the past 100 years.

More information on First Ladies

Selected images

Jessie Street

Jessie Street, 1929 Reginald Jerrold-Nathan. © Estate of Reginald Jerrold-Nathan

Great Suffragette demonstration in London

Great Suffragette demonstration in London, 1911 Rose Stereograph Company

Self portrait

Self portrait, 1934 Nora Heysen AM. © Lou Klepac

June Dally-Watkins

June Dally-Watkins, 1949 (printed 2008) Max Dupain OBE

Dame Jean Macnamara

Dame Jean Macnamara, c. 1930 Donovan

Margaret Anderson

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

Senator Nancy Buttfield

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

Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong

Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong, c. 1971 Ern McQuillan OAM. © Michael McQuillan's Classic Photographs

Portrait of Marjorie Cotton

Portrait of Marjorie Cotton, 1969 Jean Isherwood OAM

Evonne Goolagong

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

Ita Buttrose

Ita Buttrose, 1981 John Williams. © Estate of John Williams

Marcia Langton

Marcia Langton, 1982 Juno Gemes. © Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2024

Cathy Freeman

Cathy Freeman, 1994 Montalbetti + Campbell. © Montalbetti & Campbell

Dame Roma Mitchell

Dame Roma Mitchell, 1998 Jessica Hromas. © Jessica Hromas

Imelda Roche

Imelda Roche, 2003 Paul Newton. © Paul Newton

Quentin Bryce

Quentin Bryce, 2002 (printed 2011) Lorrie Graham. © Lorrie Graham

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman, 2002 (printed 2004) Karin Catt. © Karin Catt

Rose Scott

Rose Scott, 1913 Annie May Moore

Gladys Moncrieff

Gladys Moncrieff, 1920s Ruskin

Mrs Bonney flying from Australia to South Africa via Siam. Singapore 1937 (full length portrait)

Mrs Bonney flying from Australia to South Africa via Siam. Singapore 1937 (full length portrait) an unknown artist

Nancy Bird Walton

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

Jill Ker Conway

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

Elizabeth Blackburn

Elizabeth Blackburn, 2011 Hugh Hamilton. © Hugh Hamilton/Copyright Agency, 2024

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The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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© National Portrait Gallery 2025
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.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency