Born in the NSW town of Bourke, Percy Hobson (1943–2022) became Australia's national high-jumping champion in 1962 with a jump of 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 metres). Later the same year, competing at the Perth Empire Games (now Commonwealth Games), he won the Gold Medal with a jump of 6 feet 11 inches (2.11 metres) - a jump that equalled the then Games record. Along with the boxer Jeff Dynevor, who won a Bantamweight Gold Medal at the same games, Hobson was the first Indigenous athlete ever to win Commonwealth Gold for Australia.
Purchased 2006
© Sahlan Hayes
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.
Introduction The National Portrait Gallery’s photographic exhibition Flash: Australian Athletes in Focus explores various interpretations of Australian sporting men and women.
Visit us, learn with us, support us or work with us! Here’s a range of information about planning your visit, our history and more!
