Dombrovskis: journeys into the wild by Peter Dombrovskis

Dombrovskis: journeys into the wild (March 9-May 12) is a survey of one of the world's foremost wilderness photographers, Tasmania's Peter Dombrovskis (1945–96). He was the first Australian to be inducted (posthumously) into the International Photography Hall of Fame in 2003.

© Peter Dombrovskis.
Cushion plants, Mount Anne, southwest Tasmania 1984, Reproduction courtesy of the National Library of Australia copy
© Peter Dombrovskis. Cushion plants, Mount Anne, southwest Tasmania 1984.
Reproduction courtesy of the National Library of Australia copy

His powerful, reflective and deeply personal images of the unique Tasmanian wilderness had a lasting impact. His images changed the way Australians think about their environment by making remote nature accessible through images. Through their use in environmental campaigns, Dombrovskis’s images have become shorthand for environmental concerns in Australia. Particularly memorable was the image ‘Morning Mist, Rock Island Bend’ that Bob Brown (later to become Leader of the Greens Party) used in the ‘No Dams’ campaign to save the Franklin River. Seldom in the history of photography has there been as clear an example of visual culture bearing such political sway.

Presenting a vast sweep of the artist’s images – almost 80 – this exhibition was initially developed by the National Library of Australia from their comprehensive collection of Dombrovskis’s work.

His works are held in the National Gallery of Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, the Australian Heritage Commission, as well as private collections.

Dombrovskis once commented “photography is, quite simply, a means of communicating my concern for the beauty of the Earth.”

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April

Canberra: 27 Feb until 20 July 2025. The National Library has invited renowned Australian photojournalist Mike Bowers to select some of his favourite images from the Fairfax Photo Archive.

Brisbane: Until 13 July 2025. Amateur Brisbane photographer Alfred Henrie Elliott (1870-1954) extraordinary images lay dormant for decades until they were discovered only recently. This exhibition is curated by seven Brisbane photographers.

Sydney: Until 31 Dec 2025. PIX, Australia’s first pictorial news weekly, is brought to life in this exhibition, showcasing its archived images and stories for the very first time.

May

Sydney: 15 May – 19 October. Showcasing 100 incredible images, this remarkable exhibition offers a window into the astonishing variety of life on our planet – and the critical importance of preserving it.

Perth: From 31 May – 28 Sept 2025. Featuring 85 works from three major series – Deep Springs, Overpass, and Cross Country – the exhibition spans twelve years of Contis’s evolving photographic practice.

June

Melbourne: June 5 - 16 August 2025. The explore the history of Alan Adler's photobooths and their cultural significance, alongside visual stories told by the community.

Adelaide: 7 June – 16 August. Drawn from the National Portrait Gallery collection, this photographic exhibition captures the experience of lives lived through dance.

Melbourne: 7 June – 31 August. Protest is a Creative Act seeks to address issues around the body, sexuality, race, national identity and the environment.

Canberra; June 19 - July 12 2025. The River Report is a five-day map of when a normal Yitilal (wet season) turned into a major disaster and the local inhabitants were once again displaced.