Benalla Art Gallery receives iconic photograph

Published on 27 August 2019

The Benalla Art Gallery has been gifted an iconic photograph by Max Dupain, one of Australia's most revered photographers.

Peter and Jill Heath recently donated this important artwork to the Benalla Art Gallery.

The work, At Newport (1952), is considered an iconic representation of Australian beach culture and one of Dupain’s best works alongside his famous images The Sunbaker and Bondi.

The central subject of the photograph, Peter Heath, was unaware the image was taken until he received it in a book of photographs for his 50th birthday. He recognised the bathers as being similar to a pair he used to have before realising that the photograph was of him at age 14.

Mr. Heath was gifted the photograph by the artist before his death in 1992. He and his wife have now gifted the iconic photograph to the Benalla Art Gallery, where it has become part of the Gallery’s permanent collection.

Mayor, Cr Scott Upston is grateful for the gift.

“Max Dupain was an important Australian photographer. To have his work represented in the permanent collection of the Benalla Art Gallery is very special,” Cr Upston said.

“We are most grateful to Peter and Jill Heath for the donation of this significant work,” said Cr Upston.

Image: Max Dupain (1911 - 1992), At Newport 1952, silver gelatin photograph, Gift of Dr Peter & Mrs Jill Heath, 2019. Benalla Art Gallery Collection