Skip to main content
Menu
What's on Prizes The Portraits Watch
The Gallery Governance & Board Circle of Friends
Learn Access Search the website
close close
What's on The Portraits The Gallery Learn Watch More O

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.

Kelly Dixon, Tent Hill, Qld

2004
John Elliott

type C photograph on paper (sheet: 60.7 cm x 50.6 cm, image: 50.0 cm x 33.0 cm)
Kelly Dixon, Tent Hill, Qld

Kelly Dixon is one of Australia's best-known bush balladeers. His poems have been set to music by some of Australia's leading country music stars - including Slim Dusty, who recorded Kelly's classic "Leave Him Out There in the Longyard." Kelly's verses have been collected in the books From a Drifter's Pen and From Under the Cross. A two-time winner of the Golden Gumleaf at the Australian Bush Laureate Awards - an honour he shares with the likes of Slim Dusty and R. M. Williams - Kelly was also a founder member of the Australian Bush Balladeers Association.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2005
© 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.
2005.41
Currently not on display
Let me know when this portrait’s on display
Request a digital copy for publication

Artist and subject

John Elliott (age 53 in 2004)

Kelly Dixon (age 71 in 2004)

Donated by

John Elliott (19 portraits)

Related portraits
(View all 23)

Robert Edwards
Macca (Ian McNamara)
R. M. Williams
Edna Jessop, Mt Isa
1. Robert Edwards, 2009. 2. Macca (Ian McNamara), 2007. 3. R. M. Williams, 1982 (printed 2005). 4. Edna Jessop, Mt Isa, 2004. All John Elliott.

Related information

The companion
The companion
The companion
The companion

The Companion

Permanent collection catalogue

Publications

On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.
Herb Wharton, Cunnamulla, Qld
Herb Wharton, Cunnamulla, Qld
Herb Wharton, Cunnamulla, Qld
Herb Wharton, Cunnamulla, Qld

Thousand mile stare

Magazine article by Simon Elliott, 2004

John Elliott talks about his photographic portrait practice, including his iconic image of Slim Dusty arm-in-arm with Dame Edna Everage.
Stan Coster, Manilla, NSW
Stan Coster, Manilla, NSW
Stan Coster, Manilla, NSW
Stan Coster, Manilla, NSW

Thousand Mile Stare

Portrait photography by John Elliott

Previous exhibition, 2004

Thousand mile stare provides a unique portrait of people of rural Australia
Home Contact Media Privacy statement User agreement Social media and community guidelines
© National Portrait Gallery 2025
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

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