© National Portrait Gallery 2025
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196
Dame Mabel Brookes, c. 1955
Sir William Dargie CBE
Portrait, oil on canvas
Gift of Rodney Davidson AO OBE 2014. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
Mabel Forrest
Biography
Mabel Forrest (née Mills, 1872–1935), writer, was born near Yandilla on the Darling Downs and grew up on various cattle stations in the district, publishing her first poem at age ten.
1 portrait in the collection
Mabel Forrest, 1917
Murray Studio (Brisbane & Gympie)
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2012
Luke Brookes and Ellen Buswell
Elizabeth Looker
Image
Shirley Purdie
Contributing artists
Born: 1947, Gilbun – Mabel Downs Station, WA
Works: Warmun, WA
Memories
General content
The second row of paintings recall stories relating to specific sites, experiences and activities.
George Baxter
Biography
George Baxter, a Londoner, is credited with inventing the first commercially viable colour printing process.
1 portrait in the collection
Radclyffe Hall
Charles Buchel
Image
Storytelling
General content
The fourth row of paintings interweave Ngarranggarni, memories, relationships and Country.
The sensational denouement of the case
The Yarra Boot Trunk Tragedy, 12 January 1899
About Face article
The 'Yarra Boot Trunk Tragedy' unfolded a week before Christmas 1898, when some neighbourhood boys noticed a wooden box floating in the river at Richmond.
The hands have it
Magazine article by Angus Trumble, 2016
Angus Trumble treats the gallery’s collection with a dab hand.
Hong Fu
Biography
Hong Fu was born in China in 1946 and held his first solo exhibition at the National Art Gallery, Beijing, in 1988.
1 portrait in the collection
Storied portrait
About Face article
Emily Casey takes in Shirley Purdie’s remarkable self-portrait, Ngalim-Ngalimbooroo Ngagenybe.
Clem Sands
Biography
Clem, George, David, Alfie and Russell Sands were members of one of Australia's most famous sporting families.
2 portraits in the collection
George Sands
Biography
Clem, George, David, Alfie and Russell Sands were members of one of Australia's most famous sporting families.
2 portraits in the collection
Alfie Sands
Biography
Clem, George, David, Alfie and Russell Sands were members of one of Australia's most famous sporting families.
2 portraits in the collection