Belgrave resident Neil McLeod has received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2026 Australia Day awards for his service to the visual arts.
Mr McLeod is the director of Neil McLeod Fine Arts, was the benefactor of the McLeod Gift Collection at Burrinja Cultural Centre between 2001-2006, is a publisher and author with over 65 books and albums and a serving member of the Rotary Club of Belgrave.
Locals would recall that way back in the old days, Neil and his great friend Lin Onus set up the Burrinja Gallery on the site of the old Shire Council buildings. Even when Lin passed away suddenly, Neil continued the work, and with the new team, set up this hub of arts and community in the hills. The Uncle Neil Café was a centre for lively music and theatre with performers such as Paul Kelly, Midnight Oil, David Gulpilil, Dave Graney, various Aboriginal dance groups, Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter.
What may come as a surprise to some though is the breadth of the work Neil has been involved in since that time.
Neil spent months each year travelling through outback Australia, encouraging, sharing and recording stories from Aboriginal Australians. He formed strong friendships among the many he worked with. He encouraged stockman and later artist, Jack Dale to paint the stories that enabled his people to lay claim to the land rights for his homeland, Iminji (Mt House), and that land has stayed with Jack’s people.
Neil was a pioneer in promoting and developing Aboriginal art, long before Arts Centres were established and he formed long-term friendships with artists such as Jack Dale, Patsy Angubrra Lulpunda, Rover Thomas, Paddy Jaminji and David Mowaljarli. Regular visitors to his Rocksleigh Avenue home included the Ngajmirra family, Jonathon Kumintjara Brown, Dwajida Nordjongorle and Ralph Nicholls. These visits focused on teaching and learning the skills of painting and the development of art pieces to be shared and sold. It certainly developed a set of friendships that have been maintained through a great many years.
Neil has also spent considerable time in Papua New Guinea collecting artworks and encouraging the local artisans to maintain their fine arts and amazing costumes and songs. He has also had many overseas exhibitions of his own artwork. Early in 2026, Neil’s latest exhibition will be held in China under the auspices of the mother of President Xi Xing Ping who expressed particular interest in Neil’s works on birds.
In recent times, many will recall that Neil’s house burned down in December 2024 as a result of an electrical fault. This devastating blow meant that his vast collection of artworks, his notes, records, photographs and copies of his 67 published books, important films of cultural dances and celebrations articles were lost.
But if you thought this would daunt his spirit you would be mistaken. He has designed and begun building an extraordinary new home, which is drawing considerable interest from designers and architects for its engagement with the environment. It may also happen that you might find yourself held up at the traffic lights in Belgrave some morning and a grey-haired man will offer you a formal bow and a great big grin while you wait. He would welcome a return bow and smile because Neil believes in sharing fun in life.
