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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 Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Piper, the native who accompanied Major Mitchell in his expedition to the interior of N.S.W.

1836
William Fernyhough

lithograph on paper (sheet: 28.4 cm x 20.8 cm)

Piper (life dates unknown) was a Wiradjuri man whose Country is now known as Bathurst. Piper acted as a guide, diplomat and translator for Thomas Mitchell during three major expeditions in south-eastern Australia between 1836 and 1846. Renowned for his hunting prowess and his skills as a tracker and interpreter, Piper would have witnessed the establishment of permanent routes between Sydney and Parramatta and of a route to Liverpool via the Blue Mountains. He accompanied Mitchell as he charted the Darling River to its junction with the Murray, and also chaperoned the explorers around parts of western Victoria (Mitchell named the Grampians after a mountain range in Scotland). On the conclusion of the third expedition in 1836, Piper received various gifts, including an old army coat of Mitchell’s and a hat. ‘His portrait, thus arrayed, soon appeared in the print-shops, an ingenious artist (Mr. Fernyhough) having drawn his likeness very accurately’, Mitchell wrote. However, the once positive relationship between Piper and Mitchell ultimately ended quite badly in early 1846 when Mitchell, upon learning that Piper wished to leave his fourth expedition, had him escorted back to Bathurst and incarcerated.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Dr Robert Edwards AO 1999
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

William Fernyhough (age 27 in 1836)

John Piper

Donated by

Dr Robert (Bob) Edwards AO (13 portraits)

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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.

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