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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.

Annie Roberts

1878
George Baird Shaw

watercolour on paper (mount: 37.1 cm x 31.8 cm)

This pair of portraits by the Scottish-born painter and printmaker George Baird Shaw are thought to depict publican Charles Warman Roberts (1821–1894) and his wife Annie (née Marsden, 1824–1895). Born in Sydney, Roberts followed his father into the hotel business, purchasing the license for the Crown & Anchor, situated on the corner of George and Market Streets in Sydney, around 1853. The eldest of his and Annie’s eight children, Charles James Roberts, managed the Crown & Anchor from 1867 until 1887, when Charles Warman Roberts again became its licensee. In 1888, it was rebuilt as the luxury Roberts Hotel – ‘a most imposing structure of five storeys’ that was ‘replete with every modern improvement’. Charles and Annie resided at a number of addresses in the eastern suburbs before settling in Rose Bay at a house named The Ferns, later known as Fernleigh Castle. The Roberts Hotel operated until 1919 when it was destroyed by fire. The site was sold to Farmer's & Co. and later became famous for the Gowings emporium built there in the 1920s.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Reg, Lesley, Glen and Paul Thoms 2011

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

George Baird Shaw (age 66 in 1878)

Annie Edensor Roberts (age 54 in 1878)

Donated by

Lesley Thoms (2 portraits)

Reg Thoms (2 portraits)

Related portraits

1. Charles Warman Roberts, 1878. All George Baird Shaw.
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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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