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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.

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George Reid paperweight

Some prime ministers

General content

Sarah Engledow explores the history of the prime ministers and artists featured in the exhibition.

Bob Hawke

Primed

Some Prime Ministers

Previous exhibition, 2019

Seventeen of Australia’s thirty prime ministers to date are represented in the contrasting sizes, moods and mediums of these portraits.

Governor General Sir John Kerr

Governor General Sir John Kerr

Governor General Sir John Kerr

Governor General Sir John Kerr, 1976

Portrait, fibre-tipped pen, watercolour, pencil on paper

Gift of HOTA (Home of the Arts), Gold Coast 2019 with the encouragement of Patrick Corrigan AM

Painter John Brack with Professor Alex Mitchell and Sir Garfield Barwick

Painter John Brack with Professor Alex Mitchell and Sir Garfield Barwick

Painter John Brack with Professor Alex Mitchell and Sir Garfield Barwick

Painter John Brack with Professor Alex Mitchell and Sir Garfield Barwick, c. 1977

Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Gift of the Jozef Vissel 2015

Angus Trumble Director, National Portrait Gallery

Cherish the brethren

About Face article

Fortunately, perhaps, there is no instruction manual for newly appointed art museum directors.

Zelman Cowen

Zelman Cowen

Zelman Cowen

Zelman Cowen, c. 1977

Portrait, pencil and oil on canvas laid on chipboard

Gift of David Crooke 2011. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Sir Zelman Cowen

Sir Zelman Cowen

Sir Zelman Cowen

Sir Zelman Cowen, 1982

Portrait, pencil, brush and ink on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2010
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Gough and John

Gough and John

Gough and John

Gough and John, 1981

Peter van der Veer

Portrait, gelatin silver photograph, selenium toned on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2005

John Kerr

John Kerr

John Kerr

John Kerr, 1976

Portrait, pencil on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Enid Hawkins 2003
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

The Hon E.G. Whitlam AC QC

The Hon E.G. Whitlam AC QC

The Hon E.G. Whitlam AC QC

The Hon E.G. Whitlam AC QC, 1980

Portrait, oil on canvas laid on masonite

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2002

Sir Zelman Cowen

Sir Zelman Cowen

Sir Zelman Cowen

Sir Zelman Cowen, 2000

Portrait, oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Marc Besen AO and Dr Joseph Brown AO OBE 2000

Sketch of Clifton Pugh painting John Perceval

Clifton Pugh AO

Clifton Pugh AO was one of Australia’s best-known artists of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and one of its leading advocates for the arts.

11 portraits in the collection

Gough Whitlam

Hon. Gough Whitlam AC QC

Edward Gough Whitlam AC QC (1916-2014) was prime minister from the end of 1972 to the end of 1975.

12 portraits in the collection

Gough and John

Sir John Kerr AK KCMG LSt J PC GCVO QC

Sir John Kerr AK KCMG LSt J PC GCVO QC (1914-1991) was the eighteenth Governor-General of Australia.

3 portraits in the collection

Sir Zelman Cowen

Rt Hon Sir Zelman Cowen AK GCMG GCVO QC DCL

The Rt Hon Sir Zelman Cowen AK GCMG GCVO QC DCL (1919-2011), academic, writer and former Governor-General, was educated at Scotch College and the University of Melbourne before serving in the navy in the Second World War.

3 portraits in the collection

Painter John Brack with Professor Alex Mitchell and Sir Garfield Barwick

The Rt. Hon Sir Garfield Barwick AK GCMG QC

The Rt Hon Sir Garfield Barwick AK GCMG QC (1903–1997) was Chief Justice of Australia from 27 April 1964 to 11 February 1981 – the longest serving Chief Justice of Australia.

2 portraits in the collection

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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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