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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.

Harry Messel

n.d.
Louis Kahan AO

fibre-tipped pen and pen and ink on paper (sheet: 56 cm x 38 cm)

Harry Messel AC CBE (1922-2015), scientist and academic, was born in Canada and gained his qualifications there and in Scotland and Ireland. He came to Australia after the war, and taught for two years at Adelaide University. In 1952, aged just 29, he was appointed to the University of Sydney as Professor and Head of the School of Physics. Over the unprecedented 35 years that Messel ran the School it developed into one of the world's leading university physics departments. To support its research Messel established the first university foundation in the British Commonwealth, the Nuclear Research Foundation, through which he raised enormous sums. A high-profile intellectual, he advised on government policy, pioneered the introduction of computers in Australia, contributed substantially to high school science education through his widely-used science textbook and encouraged students to pursue careers in science through his International Science Schools. After his retirement from the university in 1987 Messel served on the World Conservation Union, heading its Crocodile Specialist Group from 1989 to 2004. He served on the Australian Atomic Energy Commission from 1975 to 1981, and was Chancellor of Bond University from 1992 to 1997.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Mrs Lily Kahan 2017
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
© Louis Kahan/Copyright Agency, 2024

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

Louis Kahan AO

Harry Messel AC CBE

Donated by

Lily Kahan (52 portraits)

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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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