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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.

Sir Clive McPherson

early 1950s
Sir William Dargie CBE

oil on canvas (frame: 123.0 cm x 98.0 cm, support: 102.0 cm x 77.0 cm)

Sir Clive McPherson (1884-1958), pastoralist and businessman, was the son of a bank manager, and his mother was a pianist who came from a pastoral family. Having attended Caulfield Grammar, he started his banking career at thirteen, but soon left to work on his uncle’s property. Before he was twenty he was overseer at Bungeeltap, Ballan, whence he proceeded to a position as book keeper on a property in the Riverina. In 1903 he began working in an auctioneering firm; soon, he became managing partner of an auctioneering business of his own, McPherson, Thom, Kettle and Co. In 1920 he and his wife bought Boomanoomana at Mulwala, NSW, and over the ensuing years he bought six more properties in NSW and Victoria. Over the 1920s he became well-known as a rural leader and man-about-Melbourne. He served on many bodies including the British Phosphate Commission, the Dairy Produce Export Control Board, the Victorian Unemployment Council and the Closer Settlement Commission, the latter set up to alleviate rural crises brought on by the Depression. He moved with his family to Melbourne in 1933 and was knighted in 1941. Later, he was on the boards of the National Bank of Australasia and the Commonwealth Bank as well as the Royal Melbourne Hospital. During World War II he was honorary chairman of the Australian Wheat Board. Close friends with Sir Harold Darling and Robert Menzies, he lost his Commonwealth Bank and British Phosphate directorships under the post-war Labor government. Henceforth he concentrated on Younghusband Ltd, the pastoral house of which he was managing director and chairman from 1938 until his death.

Gift of the Estate of Marion Orme Page 2016
© Roger Dargie and Faye Dargie

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

Sir William Dargie CBE (age 38 in 1950)

Sir Clive McPherson (age 66 in 1950)

Subject professions

Business, trades and industry

Donated by

Trustees of the Estate of Marion Orme Page (2 portraits)

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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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