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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.

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Slim Dusty at Carlton Hill Station, WA

1993
John Elliott

gelatin silver photograph on paper (sheet: 50.5 cm x 40.5 cm, image: 46.5 cm x 32.0 cm)

Slim Dusty AO MBE (1927-2003), born David Gordon Kirkpatrick, was Australia's most prolific recording artist. He wrote his first song, 'The Way the Cowboy Dies', when he was ten years old, and styled himself Slim Dusty at eleven. He launched his travelling show in 1954; a decade later he made the first of his many round-Australia tours. His song 'The Pub With No Beer' (1957) was the first international hit by an Australian recording artist, and was awarded Australia's first gold record. It remains the only 78 rpm gold record in Australia. Dusty held more gold and platinum records than any other Australian artist, and won 32 Tamworth Country Music Festival Golden Guitars. Although he was never Australian of the Year, in 1999 he was named Father of the Year and inaugural Senior Australian of the Year. His hundredth album was released in July 2000, shortly before he reduced the nation to tears by singing 'Waltzing Matilda' at the closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games. His first volume of autobiography, Walk a Country Mile, was published in 1979, and his second, Another Day, Another Town in 1997.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 1999
© John Elliott

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

John Elliott (age 42 in 1993)

Slim Dusty OBE (age 71 in 1993)

Subject professions

Performing arts

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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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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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