Missingham, Hal, 1906-1994

Hal Missingham was Director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales from 1945 to 1971.

Harold (Hal) Missingham was born at Claremont, Western Australia on December 8 1906, to David Alexander Missingham and Annie Florence (ně Summers). He was educated at Perth Boys School, before becoming apprenticed to process engraver J. Gibney & Son, Perth, in 1922. During his apprenticeship he studied drawing at Perth Technical School with Jamie Linton, and evening classes with John Linton.

In 1945 he was appointed director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW). He introduced policies of Australian art collecting, and the international exhibitions organised by him made significant contributions to contemporary Australian art development.

Missingham published works throughout his career, including a childrens book Australian alphabet (Sydney: Consolidated Press, [1942]), regular contributions of introductions to books about artists work such as The etchings of Sydney Ure Smith (Sydney: Ure Smith, 1950), books on his own artworks and photographs such as My Australia (Sydney: London: Collins, c1969), and his autobiography They kill you in the end (Sydney : Angus & Robertson, 1973).

Missingham was honoured throughout his career for his contribution to the arts, receiving the Coronation Medal (1953), Chevalier d'Legion d'Honeur (1953), Cavaliere Ufficiale dell'Ordine al Merito della Republica Italiana (1957), Knight Cross First Class, Order of St. Olaf (1971), and Officer, Order of Australia (1978). He returned to Perth to live in the 1980s, where he died in 1994.