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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.

The play’s the thing

Penelope Grist charts an immersive path through Stuart Spence’s photography.

More information on The play’s the thing

Selected images

14 images
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Surfing, Noosa, 1970s Stuart Spence
Surfing, Noosa, 1970s Stuart Spence
Ross Wilson performing with Ross Wilson’s Mondo Rock, as his band was known then, at the Sylvania Hotel, 1978 Stuart Spence
Ross Wilson performing with Ross Wilson’s Mondo Rock, as his band was known then, at the Sylvania Hotel, 1978 Stuart Spence
Peter Tucker and Alex Cramb, abandoned brickworks, Princes Highway, St Peters, Sydney, 1981 Stuart Spence
Peter Tucker and Alex Cramb, abandoned brickworks, Princes Highway, St Peters, Sydney, 1981 Stuart Spence
Frank Moorhouse, author, Balmain, c. 1987 Stuart Spence
Frank Moorhouse, author, Balmain, c. 1987 Stuart Spence
Stu, 1984 Stuart Spence
Stu, 1984 Stuart Spence
Paul Livingston (aka Flacco), Bondi, Sydney, c. 1988 Stuart Spence
Paul Livingston (aka Flacco), Bondi, Sydney, c. 1988 Stuart Spence
Nicole Kidman, Balmoral Beach, Sydney, 1988 Stuart Spence
Nicole Kidman, Balmoral Beach, Sydney, 1988 Stuart Spence
Kylie Minogue, Channel 7 Studios, Sydney, 1988 Stuart Spence
Kylie Minogue, Channel 7 Studios, Sydney, 1988 Stuart Spence
Ningali Lawford-Wolf
Ningali Lawford-Wolf, 1996 (printed 2016) Stuart Spence. © Stuart Spence
Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe, 1995 (printed 2016) Stuart Spence. © Stuart Spence
Leaving Kansas, c. 2005 Stuart Spence
Leaving Kansas, c. 2005 Stuart Spence
Dress Circle, c. 2006 Stuart Spence
Dress Circle, c. 2006 Stuart Spence
When a man snaps, 2017 Stuart Spence
When a man snaps, 2017 Stuart Spence
Christa Hughes, singer / songwriter, performer, 2020 Stuart Spence
Christa Hughes, singer / songwriter, performer, 2020 Stuart Spence
14 images
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Related information

Jimmy Barnes at The Coogee Bay Hotel 1984 (detail) Grant Matthews
Jimmy Barnes at The Coogee Bay Hotel 1984 (detail) Grant Matthews
Jimmy Barnes at The Coogee Bay Hotel 1984 (detail) Grant Matthews
Jimmy Barnes at The Coogee Bay Hotel 1984 (detail) Grant Matthews

Pub Rock

Your backstage pass to 70s and 80s sounds and scenes

Previous exhibition, 2020

Celebrate the people, places and sounds of Australian pub rock and its enduring impact on our nation’s identity.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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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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