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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.

Presence and absence

The art of Australia’s colonial women painters affords us an invaluable, alternative perspective on the nascent nation-building project.

More information on Presence and absence

Selected images

14 images
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The artist and her family, c. 1854 by Martha Berkeley
The artist and her family, c. 1854 by Martha Berkeley
The first dinner given to the Aborigines, 1838 by Martha Berkeley
The first dinner given to the Aborigines, 1838 by Martha Berkeley
Self portrait as Ophelia, 1830s by Mary Morton Allport
Self portrait as Ophelia, 1830s by Mary Morton Allport
Morton Allport, c. 1850 by Mary Morton Allport
Morton Allport, c. 1850 by Mary Morton Allport
John Glover, c. 1832 by Mary Morton Allport
John Glover, c. 1832 by Mary Morton Allport
Houses in upper Liverpool Street showing Fairy Knowe, 1833–1839 by Mary Morton Allport
Houses in upper Liverpool Street showing Fairy Knowe, 1833–1839 by Mary Morton Allport
Portrait of Octavius Browne, 1841 by Georgiana McCrae
Portrait of Octavius Browne, 1841 by Georgiana McCrae
Self portrait, c. 1830 by Georgiana McCrae
Self portrait, c. 1830 by Georgiana McCrae
Major and Mrs Errington’s house in Van Diemen’s Land, John on the floor, 1843 by Eliza Errington
Major and Mrs Errington’s house in Van Diemen’s Land, John on the floor, 1843
 by Eliza Errington
An evening at Yarra Cottage, Port Stephens
An evening at Yarra Cottage, Port Stephens, 1857 Maria Brownrigg
Isabella Louisa Parry
Isabella Louisa Parry, c. 1826 an unknown artist
View of Port Stephens from the verandah at Tahlee House, 1830–1834 by Isabella Louisa Parry
View of Port Stephens from the verandah at Tahlee House, 1830–1834 by Isabella Louisa Parry
Port Arthur, c. 1846 by Catherine Augusta Mitchell (attributed)
Port Arthur, c. 1846 by Catherine Augusta Mitchell (attributed)
The Grose Valley showing Govett’s Leap, 1860 by Mary Elizabeth Martindale
The Grose Valley showing Govett’s Leap, 1860 by Mary Elizabeth Martindale
14 images
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Related information

An evening at Yarra Cottage, Port Stephens
An evening at Yarra Cottage, Port Stephens
An evening at Yarra Cottage, Port Stephens
An evening at Yarra Cottage, Port Stephens

Portrait Journey around Australia

History (upper primary)

2:00pm, Thu 20 Mar

From First Nations perspectives to the contribution of migrants, from the opening of Parliament to environmental protest, Australian history is full of fascinating stories – and we have the portraits to explore them.
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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.

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