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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

Barry Humphries, 1958 Clifton Pugh AO. © Shane Pugh

Gordon and Marilyn Darling

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

Jack Brabham

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

Gough Whitlam

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

Jack Brabham

Jack Brabham, 2004 Julie Edgar. © Julie Edgar

John Howard and Janette Howard

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

Andrew Sayers

Andrew Sayers, 2012 Mark Mohell. © Mark Mohell

Nick Cave

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

Sketch for Prime Minister Robert Menzies

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

Self portrait

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

Johnny O'Keefe

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

Cathy Freeman

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

Mark Taylor

Mark Taylor, 1999 Bill Leak. © Estate of Bill Leak

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

Andy Thomas

Andy Thomas, 2002 Montalbetti + Campbell. © Montalbetti & Campbell

Nancy Wake - The White Mouse

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

Mick Dodson

Mick Dodson, 2010 Ricky Maynard. © Ricky Maynard

Thomas Keneally

Thomas Keneally, 1987 Bernd Heinrich. © Bernd Heinrich

Sir Donald Bradman

Sir Donald Bradman, 1990 Bill Leak. © Estate of Bill Leak

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

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

Victor Trumper

Victor Trumper, 1905 George Beldam, Sun Electric Engraving Company

Walter Lindrum OBE

Walter Lindrum OBE, c. 1932 Will Longstaff

Self portrait at easel

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

The Movie Star (David Gulpilil)

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

HV (Doc) Evatt

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

Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch

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

Dr John Yu

Dr John Yu, 2004 Ah Xian. © Ah Xian

Marcia Langton

Marcia Langton, 2009 Brook Andrew, Trent Walter. © Brook Andrew

Professor Mandyam Srinivasan

Professor Mandyam Srinivasan, 2014 Sam Leach. © Sam Leach

Professor Peter Doherty

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

Elizabeth Blackburn

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

Albert Namatjira

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

Portrait of Captain James Cook RN

Portrait of Captain James Cook RN, 1782 John Webber

Self portrait with gladioli

Self portrait with gladioli, 1922 George Lambert

Ron Castan AM QC

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

Colin Madigan and Robert Hughes, Canberra

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

Bruce Dawe, Melbourne

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

Patrick White, Castle Hill, Sydney

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

Yvonne Audette, Vaucluse, Sydney

Yvonne Audette, Vaucluse, Sydney, 1968 (printed 2000) David Moore. © 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

Geo Face Distributor, 2009 James Angus. © James Angus

L. Gordon Darling AC CMG

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

Marilyn Darling AC

Marilyn Darling AC, 2010 Anne Zahalka. © Anne Zahalka

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

Study for Portrait of W S Robinson

Study for Portrait of W S Robinson, 1952 Sir William Dobell OBE. © 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.

Dr John Yu

Dr John Yu

Dr John Yu

Portrait Exploration: Art and Identity

Visual Arts (upper primary)

2:00pm, Thu 6 Mar

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.

Marcia Langton

Marcia Langton

Marcia Langton

Portrait Quest!

Civics and Citizenship (upper primary)

2:00pm, Thu 13 Mar

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

© 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