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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.

Primed

Some Prime Ministers

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

More information on Primed

Selected images

36 images
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Bob Hawke
Bob Hawke, 2012 Luke Cornish. © Luke Cornish
Julia Gillard
Julia Gillard, 2013 Peter Brew-Bevan. © Peter Brew-Bevan
John Howard and Janette Howard
John Howard and Janette Howard, 2000 Josonia Palaitis. © Josonia Palaitis/Copyright Agency, 2024
Prime Minister Gough Whitlam pours soil into the hand of traditional land owner Vincent Lingiari
Prime Minister Gough Whitlam pours soil into the hand of traditional land owner Vincent Lingiari, 1975 Mervyn Bishop. © National Indigenous Australians Agency
Barton and Watson
Barton and Watson, 1902 G. H. Dancey
Billy Hughes bottle stopper
Billy Hughes bottle stopper, 1911-1921 Mashman Bros Ltd
Rt Hon. Sir Robert Menzies
Rt Hon. Sir Robert Menzies, c. 1962 Victor Greenhalgh. © Estate of Victor Greenhalgh
President Johnson and Prime Minister Holt at Canberra Airport
President Johnson and Prime Minister Holt at Canberra Airport, 1966 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/
Robert Menzies, Lancaster House, London
Robert Menzies, Lancaster House, London, 1956 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/
Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam, 1975 (printed 2010) Bill McAuley. © Bill McAuley
Ben Chifley
Ben Chifley, n.d. Max Dupain OBE. © Max Dupain/Copyright Agency, 2024
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
Gough and John
Gough and John, 1981 Peter van der Veer. © Peter van der Veer
Gough Whitlam and Bob Hawke
Gough Whitlam and Bob Hawke, c. 1976 (printed 2017) Robert McFarlane. © Robert McFarlane/Copyright Agency, 2024
Stanley Bruce
Stanley Bruce, 1937 Barbara Tribe. © Estate of Barbara Tribe
John Gorton
John Gorton, 1970 (cast 1999) Victor Greenhalgh. © Estate of Victor Greenhalgh
William McMahon
William McMahon, 1973 Victor Greenhalgh. © Estate of Victor Greenhalgh
The Federal Leader Edmund Barton
The Federal Leader Edmund Barton, c. 1900 Nelson Illingworth
Sketch for Prime Minister Robert Menzies
Sketch for Prime Minister Robert Menzies, 1960 Sir William Dobell OBE. © William Dobell/Copyright Agency, 2024
Billy Hughes
Billy Hughes, n.d. Will Dyson
Harold Holt
Harold Holt, n.d. Louis Kahan AO. © Louis Kahan/Copyright Agency, 2024
Sir John Gorton
Sir John Gorton, n.d. Louis Kahan AO. © Louis Kahan/Copyright Agency, 2024
Sir John McEwen
Sir John McEwen, n.d. Louis Kahan AO. © Louis Kahan/Copyright Agency, 2024
Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam, n.d. Louis Kahan AO. © Louis Kahan/Copyright Agency, 2024
Billy McMahon
Billy McMahon, 1972 Frank Hinder. © Enid Hawkins (nee Hinder)
'awk' (Bob Hawke)
'awk' (Bob Hawke), 1972 Frank Hinder. © Enid Hawkins (nee Hinder)
Mr Keating, former Labor Minister
Mr Keating, former Labor Minister, 1975 Frank Hinder. © Enid Hawkins (nee Hinder)
Sir George Reid
Sir George Reid, c. 1895 Nelson Illingworth
Billy Hughes paperweight
Billy Hughes paperweight, n.d. an unknown artist
George Reid paperweight
George Reid paperweight, c. 1910 Farmer and Company Limited
Portrait jug of Stanley Melbourne Bruce
Portrait jug of Stanley Melbourne Bruce, 1925-1928 Ashtead Potters Limited, Surrey, UK, Percy Metcalfe
Ming Vase (Sir Robert Menzies)
Ming Vase (Sir Robert Menzies), c. 1970 Les Tanner, Gus McLaren. © Estates of Les Tanner and Gus McLaren
Self portrait with pin-up
Self portrait with pin-up, 1965 Richard Larter. © Richard Larter/Copyright Agency, 2024