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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.

Uncommon Australians

The vision of Gordon and Marilyn Darling

Sarah Engledow writes about Gordon and Marilyn Darling and their support for the National Portrait Gallery throughout its evolution.

More information on Uncommon Australians

Selected images

Barry Humphries

Clifton Pugh AO Barry Humphries 1958 © Shane Pugh

Gordon and Marilyn Darling

Francis Reiss, June Orford Gordon and Marilyn Darling 1994 © Francis Reiss and June Orford

Jack Brabham

Brian McInerney Jack Brabham 1967 (printed 2012) © Brian McInerney

Gough Whitlam

Bill McAuley Gough Whitlam 1975 (printed 2010) © Bill McAuley

Jack Brabham

Julie Edgar Jack Brabham 2004 © Julie Edgar

John Howard and Janette Howard

Josonia Palaitis John Howard and Janette Howard 2000 © Josonia Palaitis/Copyright Agency, 2024

Andrew Sayers

Mark Mohell Andrew Sayers 2012 © Mark Mohell

Nick Cave

Howard Arkley Nick Cave 1999 © Estate of Howard Arkley. Licensed by Kalli Rolfe Contemporary Art.

Sketch for Prime Minister Robert Menzies

Sir William Dobell OBE Sketch for Prime Minister Robert Menzies 1960 © William Dobell/Copyright Agency, 2024

Self portrait

Sir William Dargie CBE Self portrait late 1930s © Roger Dargie and Faye Dargie

Johnny O'Keefe "A little bit louder now..."

Ivan Durrant Johnny O'Keefe "A little bit louder now..." 1999 © Ivan Durrant/Copyright Agency, 2024

Cathy Freeman

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

Mark Taylor

Bill Leak Mark Taylor 1999 © Estate of Bill Leak

John Citizen Eddie Mabo (after Mike Kelley's 'Booth's Puddle' 1985, from Plato's Cave, Rothko's Chapel, Lincoln's profile) No.3 1996 © Gordon Bennett Estate

Andy Thomas

Montalbetti + Campbell Andy Thomas 2002 © Montalbetti & Campbell

Nancy Wake - The White Mouse

Melissa Beowulf Nancy Wake - The White Mouse 2001 © Melissa Beowulf/Copyright Agency, 2024

Mick Dodson

Ricky Maynard Mick Dodson 2010 © Ricky Maynard

Thomas Keneally

Bernd Heinrich Thomas Keneally 1987 © Bernd Heinrich

Sir Donald Bradman

Bill Leak Sir Donald Bradman 1990 © Estate of Bill Leak

Joe Darling (Joseph Darling, member of the 1896 Australian Cricket Team)

H Parker Rolfe Joe Darling (Joseph Darling, member of the 1896 Australian Cricket Team)

Victor Trumper

George Beldam Victor Trumper 1905

Walter Lindrum OBE

Will Longstaff Walter Lindrum OBE c. 1932

Self portrait at easel

Fred Williams Self portrait at easel 1960-1961 © Fred Williams

The Movie Star (David Gulpilil)

Tracey Moffatt The Movie Star (David Gulpilil) 1985 © Tracey Moffatt Courtesy of the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney.

HV (Doc) Evatt

Arnold Shore HV (Doc) Evatt 1935 © Malcom K Shore

Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch

Australian Tapestry Workshop Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch 2000 © Australian Tapestry Workshop

Dr John Yu

Ah Xian Dr John Yu 2004 © Ah Xian

Marcia Langton

Brook Andrew Marcia Langton 2009 © Brook Andrew

Professor Mandyam Srinivasan

Sam Leach Professor Mandyam Srinivasan 2014 © Sam Leach

Professor Peter Doherty

Rick Amor Professor Peter Doherty 2001 © Rick Amor/Copyright Agency, 2024

Elizabeth Blackburn

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

Albert Namatjira

Sir William Dargie CBE Albert Namatjira 1958 © Roger Dargie and Faye Dargie

Portrait of Captain James Cook RN

John Webber Portrait of Captain James Cook RN 1782

Self portrait with gladioli

George Lambert Self portrait with gladioli 1922

Ron Castan AM QC

Kate Gollings Ron Castan AM QC 1995 (printed 2001) © Estate of Kate Gollings

Colin Madigan and Robert Hughes, Canberra

David Moore Colin Madigan and Robert Hughes, Canberra 1982 (printed 2000) © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/

Bruce Dawe, Melbourne

David Moore Bruce Dawe, Melbourne 1969 (printed 2000) © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/

Patrick White, Castle Hill, Sydney

David Moore Patrick White, Castle Hill, Sydney 1963 (printed 2000) © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/

Yvonne Audette, Vaucluse, Sydney

David Moore Yvonne Audette, Vaucluse, Sydney 1968 (printed 2000) © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/

Old Parliament House

Old Parliament House

National Portrait Gallery

National Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery

Geo Face Distributor

James Angus Geo Face Distributor 2009 © James Angus

L. Gordon Darling AC CMG

Jiawei Shen L. Gordon Darling AC CMG 2006 © Jiawei Shen

Marilyn Darling AC

Anne Zahalka Marilyn Darling AC 2010 © Anne Zahalka

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

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

Study for Portrait of W S Robinson

Sir William Dobell OBE Study for Portrait of W S Robinson 1952 © William Dobell/Copyright Agency, 2024

Related information

Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Captain Charles Ulm

Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Captain Charles Ulm

Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Captain Charles Ulm

Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Captain Charles Ulm

Uncommon Australians

Towards an Australian Portrait Gallery

Touring exhibition, 1992

In 1988 philanthropists Gordon and Marilyn Darling decided to make an Australian portrait gallery a reality, overseeing the development of the 1992 touring exhibition Uncommon Australians.

Marcia Langton

Marcia Langton

Marcia Langton

Portrait Quest!

Civics and Citizenship (upper primary)

9:15am, Thu 12 Nov – Thu 19 Nov

Join us for an interactive, curriculum-aligned program that explores the lives and contributions of significant Australians.

Dr John Yu

Dr John Yu

Dr John Yu

Portrait Exploration: Art and Identity

Visual Arts (upper primary)

2:00pm, Thu 26 Nov – Thu 3 Dec

Join us for an engaging and interactive program tailored for upper primary students, where they’ll develop the confidence and critical thinking skills to interpret portraits.

© National Portrait Gallery 2026
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