Skip to main content

Shakespeare to Winehouse open 9:00am–7:00pm on Thu, Fri, Sat from 7 July

Menu
What's on The Portraits Watch
The Gallery Governance & Board Publications
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.

Gough Whitlam

1975 (printed 2010)
Bill McAuley

type C photograph on paper (sheet: 49.0 cm x 36.4 cm, image: 41.1 cm x 28.5 cm)
Gough Whitlam

Bill McAuley, a newspaper photographer and veteran of many campaigns, recalls Gough Whitlam’s 1972 electoral bid as the most exciting he ever covered. He photographed the Labor leader many times, and was ‘chuffed’ when Whitlam recognised him. ‘Gough Whitlam had become one of my heroes: in my opinion, a great man’, McAuley writes in his forthcoming autobiography. ‘In 1975 after the governor-general dismissed Gough and his government, I took a photograph of him in the ABC television studios when he made his statement to the Australian public. He looked wistful and shell-shocked, but his indignation came through loud and clear as he cried foul.’

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2010
© Bill McAuley

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.
2010.88
Currently not on display
Request a digital copy for publication

Artist and subject

Bill McAuley (age 24 in 1975)

Hon. Gough Whitlam AC QC (age 59 in 1975)

Subject professions

Government and leadership

Law and justice

Related portraits
(View all 19)

The Hon Gough Whitlam, Ossie Cruse and Michael Anderson
Gough and John
Gough... maintain the rage!
Whitlam & Snedden
1. The Hon Gough Whitlam, Ossie Cruse and Michael Anderson, 1981 (printed 2003) Juno Gemes. © Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2022. 2. Gough and John, 1981 Peter van der Veer. © Peter van der Veer. 3. Gough... maintain the rage!, 1976 Frank Hinder. © Enid Hawkins (nee Hinder). 4. Whitlam & Snedden, 1974 Frank Hinder. © Enid Hawkins (nee Hinder).

Related information

The Companion

Permanent collection catalogue

Café and shop

On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves: who we read, who we watch, who we listen to, who we cheer for, who we aspire to be, and who we'll never forget. The Companion is available to buy online and in the Portrait Gallery Store.
Prime Minister Gough Whitlam pours soil into the hand of traditional land owner Vincent Lingiari
Prime Minister Gough Whitlam pours soil into the hand of traditional land owner Vincent Lingiari
Prime Minister Gough Whitlam pours soil into the hand of traditional land owner Vincent Lingiari
Prime Minister Gough Whitlam pours soil into the hand of traditional land owner Vincent Lingiari

A handful of sand

Magazine article by Ellen Kent, 2007

Ellen Kent examines the portrait of Vincent Lingiari and Prime Minister Gough Whitlam taken by photographer Mervyn Bishop.
Bob Hawke
Bob Hawke
Bob Hawke
Bob Hawke

Primed

Some Prime Ministers

Previous exhibition, 2019

Seventeen of Australia’s thirty prime ministers to date are represented in the contrasting sizes, moods and mediums of these portraits.
Home Contact Media Privacy statement User agreement
© National Portrait Gallery 2022
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
Fax +61 2 6102 7001
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