Skip to main content

What's on

Prizes

Watch

The Gallery

Governance & Board

Circle of Friends

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.

Search / kathleen best

Lieutenant Colonel Kathleen A. L. Best

Colonel Kathleen Annie Louise Best OBE RRC

Kathleen Best OBE RRC (1910–1957), nurse and officer, grew up in Sydney where she completed nursing and midwifery training.

1 portrait in the collection

Portrait of Kathleen O'Connor

Portrait of Kathleen O'Connor

Portrait of Kathleen O'Connor

Portrait of Kathleen O'Connor, 1966 (printed 2017)

Richard Woldendorp AM

Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Gift of Richard Woldendorp AM 2017

Lieutenant Colonel Kathleen A. L. Best

Lieutenant Colonel Kathleen A. L. Best

Lieutenant Colonel Kathleen A. L. Best

Lieutenant Colonel Kathleen A. L. Best, 1943-1944

Charles Wheeler

Portrait, coloured chalk on artist board

Purchased 2019

Tessa Birnie

Tessa Birnie

Tessa Birnie

Tessa Birnie, 1959

Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Kathleen Barry 2009

image not online

2002

Portrait Donors

image not online

2009

Portrait Donors

Janet Vernon

Janet Vernon AM

Janet Vernon AM, dancer, met her life and professional partner, Graeme Murphy, at the Australian Ballet School.

1 portrait in the collection

A Portrait (Kate Hattam)

A Portrait (Kate Hattam)

A Portrait (Kate Hattam)

A Portrait (Kate Hattam), 1956

Clifton Pugh AO

Portrait, oil on board

Purchased 2006

George Andronicus

George Andronicus

George Andronicus

George Andronicus, 1985 (printed 2018)

Portrait, inkjet print on paper

Purchased with funds provided by Wayne Williams 2018

A Portrait (Kate Hattam)

Kate Hattam

Kathleen 'Kate' Hattam (1923–2004), stylesetter and art collector, was born in London and served with the Women’s Royal Air Force during the Second World War, stationed in radar at Beachey Head.

1 portrait in the collection

Yvonne Denise Kenny

Yvonne D. Kenny AM

Australian soprano Yvonne Kenny AM (b. 1950) studied science at the University of Sydney before deciding to pursue an opera career instead.

1 portrait in the collection

Nigel Butterley, Composer

Nigel Butterley AM

Nigel Butterley AM (1935-2022) was one of the foremost Australian composers and pianists of his generation.

1 portrait in the collection

Girl’s Home Regulations: BLANKETS To be aired daily. Dirty blankets to be washed. Each inmate to have her own blanket with her name in the corner. Blankets to be in the press by 12 o’clock and the press locked by the Matron, 2023 Simone Arnol

Seeing red

Magazine article by Rebecca Ray, 2023

Rebecca Ray delves into Simone Arnol’s powerful photographic tribute to her great-grandmother

Studio portrait of servicewoman Lance Corporal Kathleen Jean Mary (Kath) Walker, c.1942

Past present

Magazine article by Krysia Kitch, 2016

Krysia Kitch celebrates Oodgeroo Noonuccal.

Margot Rhys, 1935 by Athol Shmith

Progressive pictures

Magazine article by Aimee Board, 2017

Athol Shmith’s photographs contributed to the emergence of a new vision of Australian womanhood.

© National Portrait Gallery 2025
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
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