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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.

Awesome Achievers

Stories from Australians of the Year

Celebrate and be inspired by talent, passion and achievement – and triumph over adversity. This exhibition features major portraits drawn from the National Portrait Gallery collection and supplemented with works from private and institutional sources.

More information on Awesome Achievers

Selected images

Lowitja O'Donoghue

Lowitja O'Donoghue, 2006 Robert Hannaford AM. © Commonwealth of Australia

Untitled (preparatory study for sculpture of Dr John Yu)

Untitled (preparatory study for sculpture of Dr John Yu), 2003 Ah Xian. © Ah Xian

Adam (Adam Goodes)

Adam (Adam Goodes), 2014 Alan Jones. © Alan Jones/Copyright Agency, 2024

Lee Kernaghan near Broken Hill

Lee Kernaghan near Broken Hill, 2005 Ian Jennings. © Ian Jennings

Pat McGorry

Pat McGorry, 2009 (printed 2010) Dave Tacon. © Dave Tacon/Copyright Agency, 2024

John Farnham

John Farnham, 1996 Polly Borland. © Polly Borland

Alan Bond

Alan Bond Joe Greenberg. © Estate of Joe Greenberg

image not online

Alexander 'Jock' Sturrock, 1962 Graham Thorley

Senator Bonner

Senator Bonner, 1990 Robert Campbell Jnr. © Estate of Robert Campbell Jnr. Courtesy of the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney.

Sir Macfarlane Burnet

Sir Macfarlane Burnet, 1960-1961 Sir William Dargie CBE. © Roger Dargie and Faye Dargie

Dawn Fraser

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

Dawn Fraser

Dawn Fraser, 1963 David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/

Cathy Freeman

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

Cathy Freeman

Cathy Freeman, 1994 (printed 2010) Bill McAuley. © Bill McAuley

Mandawuy Yunupingu

Mandawuy Yunupingu, 1991 (printed 2011) Lorrie Graham. © Lorrie Graham

Mandawuy Yunupingu, NT

Mandawuy Yunupingu, NT, 2004 John Elliott. © John Elliott

Discussion between Bob Hawke and Yunupingu, Burunga Festival, Northern Territory

Discussion between Bob Hawke and Yunupingu, Burunga Festival, Northern Territory, 1988 (printed 2015) Sue Ford. © Sue Ford/Copyright Agency, 2024

Lionel Rose, World Champion Bantam Weight Boxer before departing to the USA to defend his title

Lionel Rose, World Champion Bantam Weight Boxer before departing to the USA to defend his title, 1968 (printed 2008) Mervyn Bishop. © Mervyn Bishop

Kath Walker (Oodgeroo Noonuccal) and Lowitja O’Donoghue at the opening of the inaugural National Aboriginal Conference, Canberra

Kath Walker (Oodgeroo Noonuccal) and Lowitja O’Donoghue at the opening of the inaugural National Aboriginal Conference, Canberra, 1978 (printed 2014) Mervyn Bishop. © Mervyn Bishop

Robert Helpmann

Robert Helpmann, 1969 David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/

Sidney Nolan and Robert Helpmann at Bonython Gallery, Adelaide Arts Festival

Sidney Nolan and Robert Helpmann at Bonython Gallery, Adelaide Arts Festival, c. 1964 (printed 2015) Robert McFarlane. © Robert McFarlane/Copyright Agency, 2024

Joan Sutherland

Joan Sutherland, n.d. (printed 1992) Lewis Morley. © Lewis Morley Archive LLC

Dame Joan Sutherland

Dame Joan Sutherland, c. 1977 Robert Hannaford AM. © Robert Hannaford/Copyright Agency, 2024

Ian Kiernan

Ian Kiernan, 1996 (printed 2001) Kate Gollings. © Estate of Kate Gollings

The Seekers reunite 50 years on

The Seekers reunite 50 years on, 2011 Helen Edwards. © Helen Edwards

Graham Kennedy and the Seekers in Melbourne

Graham Kennedy and the Seekers in Melbourne, c. 1968 Robert Whitaker. © Robert Whitaker

Patrick White #1

Patrick White #1, 1980 William Yang. © William Yang

Related information

Lowitja O'Donoghue

Lowitja O'Donoghue

Lowitja O'Donoghue

Lowitja O'Donoghue

Awesome Achievers

A cross-curriculum learning resource

Learning resource archive

What makes someone awesome? And how does a portrait tell a person's story? Bring your students up close and personal with some great Australians. For upper primary school students.

Tim Flannery by Robert Hannaford 'The space around', video: 3 minutes and 21 seconds

Tim Flannery by Robert Hannaford 'The space around', video: 3 minutes and 21 seconds

Tim Flannery by Robert Hannaford 'The space around', video: 3 minutes and 21 seconds

Tim Flannery by Robert Hannaford 'The space around', video: 3 minutes and 21 seconds

Tim Flannery by Robert Hannaford

'The space around'

Tim Flannery and artist Robert Hannaford discuss the creation of Tim's portrait.

Shane Gould

'Swimming is in my bones'

Shane Gould, Australian champion and Olympic gold medallist talks about her passion for swimming.

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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.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency