26-05-2025
MoAD preserving the legacy of trailblazer 'Bluey' Thomson
MoAD preserving the legacy of trailblazer 'Bluey' Thomson
John Howard AC surrounded by media as he announces the resignation of Senator Peter Baume. Picture Graeme Thomson/Newspix
This is branded content for the Museum of Australian Democracy.
The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House (MoAD) is launching its 2025 Annual Appeal to help preserve a vital piece of Australia's visual history.
Donations to the appeal will help MoAD to conserve, research and archive its newly-acquired Graeme 'Bluey' Thomson Collection: an extraordinary photography archive that spans two decades of Australia's political history.
The appeal aims to raise $40,000 to fund the research, conservation, and digitisation of hundreds of Thomson's photographs, alongside press passes and awards chronicling the evolution of Australian politics from the 1970s through to the 1990s.
2025 appeal
Museum of Australian Democracy is requesting support to preserve, conserve and research this rare collection telling the political story of Australia, as seen through the lens of one of its most respected photographers, Graeme 'Bluey' Thomson. To learn more or to make a donation, visit
Thomson began his career as a 15-year-old cadet and got his major break in 1964 with The Australian.
His work, later syndicated internationally, documented major political and social events as well as the evolution of press photography, from the age of darkrooms to the emergence of digital.
"There was no photographer with a better pictorial record of Australian political history, from the Robert Menzies era to that of John Howard," chair of the board at Old Parliament House Barrie Cassidy said.
Bluey Thomson (left) taking notes with a fellow photographer.
Mr Cassidy knew Thomson from his own period working in the building and was impressed by Thomson's innovative approach.
As he put it, "Bluey was a trailblazer."
Graeme 'Bluey' Thomson was a calm but commanding presence in the Press Gallery, capturing everything from the swearing-in of governments and royal tours to national protests and the subtle day-to-day interactions between politicians and the press.
The collection offers a vast range of behind-the-scenes moments.
"These images are a treasure trove of political history," MoAD senior curator, Dr Laina Hall said.
"One of the things I really love about these photographs is how they capture the relationship between politicians and the media."
One striking image captures Prime Minister Bob Hawke on the front steps of Parliament House, framed by bright lights and cameras as he stands at the heart of a bustling press scrum (below).
Bob Hawke surrounded by press on the front steps of Parliament House, Canberra. Picture by Graeme Thomson/The Museum of Australian Democracy
"There's a real sense of proximity, of the way the media works to bring those moments to the public," Dr Hall said.
The project also highlights the conservation challenges ahead.
Many prints in the collection have deteriorated over time, some are even stuck together, requiring delicate conservation treatment.
Conserving these photographs, along with the original typewritten labels attached to many of them, is another major task the funding will support.
A MoAD curator handles photographs from the Bluey Thomson Collection. Photo by The Museum of Australian Democracy
"We'll be photographing the prints, cataloguing them into our database, and undertaking conservation work to stabilise and protect them," Dr Hall said.
"This collection helps us understand not just what happened in politics, but how it was seen and experienced.
"Supporting this appeal is a way to ensure that the legacy remains accessible to all Australians."
Support the appeal by visiting
