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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.

Awesome Achievers

Stories from Australians of the Year

Celebrate and be inspired by talent, passion and achievement – and triumph over adversity. This exhibition features major portraits drawn from the National Portrait Gallery collection and supplemented with works from private and institutional sources.

More information on Awesome Achievers

Selected images

Lowitja O'Donoghue
Lowitja O'Donoghue, 2006 Robert Hannaford AM. © Commonwealth of Australia
Untitled (preparatory study for sculpture of Dr John Yu)
Untitled (preparatory study for sculpture of Dr John Yu), 2003 Ah Xian. © Ah Xian
Adam (Adam Goodes)
Adam (Adam Goodes), 2014 Alan Jones. © Alan Jones/Copyright Agency, 2024
Lee Kernaghan near Broken Hill
Lee Kernaghan near Broken Hill, 2005 Ian Jennings. © Ian Jennings
Pat McGorry
Pat McGorry, 2009 (printed 2010) Dave Tacon. © Dave Tacon/Copyright Agency, 2024
John Farnham
John Farnham, 1996 Polly Borland. © Polly Borland
Alan Bond
Alan Bond Joe Greenberg. © Estate of Joe Greenberg
image not online
NC
Alexander 'Jock' Sturrock, 1962 Graham Thorley
Senator Bonner
Senator Bonner, 1990 Robert Campbell Jnr. © Estate of Robert Campbell Jnr. Courtesy of the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney.
Sir Macfarlane Burnet
Sir Macfarlane Burnet, 1960-1961 Sir William Dargie CBE. © Roger Dargie and Faye Dargie
Dawn Fraser
Dawn Fraser, 1998 (printed 2001) Peter Brew-Bevan. © Peter Brew-Bevan
Dawn Fraser
Dawn Fraser, 1963 David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/
Cathy Freeman
Cathy Freeman, 1994 Montalbetti + Campbell. © Montalbetti & Campbell
Cathy Freeman
Cathy Freeman, 1994 (printed 2010) Bill McAuley. © Bill McAuley
Mandawuy Yunupingu
Mandawuy Yunupingu, 1991 (printed 2011) Lorrie Graham. © Lorrie Graham
Mandawuy Yunupingu, NT
Mandawuy Yunupingu, NT, 2004 John Elliott. © John Elliott
Discussion between Bob Hawke and Yunupingu, Burunga Festival, Northern Territory
Discussion between Bob Hawke and Yunupingu, Burunga Festival, Northern Territory, 1988 (printed 2015) Sue Ford. © Sue Ford/Copyright Agency, 2024
Lionel Rose, World Champion Bantam Weight Boxer before departing to the USA to defend his title
Lionel Rose, World Champion Bantam Weight Boxer before departing to the USA to defend his title, 1968 (printed 2008) Mervyn Bishop. © Mervyn Bishop
Kath Walker (Oodgeroo Noonuccal) and Lowitja O’Donoghue at the opening of the inaugural National Aboriginal Conference, Canberra
Kath Walker (Oodgeroo Noonuccal) and Lowitja O’Donoghue at the opening of the inaugural National Aboriginal Conference, Canberra, 1978 (printed 2014) Mervyn Bishop. © Mervyn Bishop
Robert Helpmann
Robert Helpmann, 1969 David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/
Sidney Nolan and Robert Helpmann at Bonython Gallery, Adelaide Arts Festival
Sidney Nolan and Robert Helpmann at Bonython Gallery, Adelaide Arts Festival, c. 1964 (printed 2015) Robert McFarlane. © Robert McFarlane/Copyright Agency, 2024
Joan Sutherland
Joan Sutherland, n.d. (printed 1992) Lewis Morley. © Lewis Morley Archive LLC
Dame Joan Sutherland
Dame Joan Sutherland, c. 1977 Robert Hannaford AM. © Robert Hannaford/Copyright Agency, 2024
Ian Kiernan
Ian Kiernan, 1996 (printed 2001) Kate Gollings. © Estate of Kate Gollings
The Seekers reunite 50 years on
The Seekers reunite 50 years on, 2011 Helen Edwards. © Helen Edwards
Graham Kennedy and the Seekers in Melbourne
Graham Kennedy and the Seekers in Melbourne, c. 1968 Robert Whitaker. © Robert Whitaker
Patrick White #1
Patrick White #1, 1980 William Yang. © William Yang
© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

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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