ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi, hiː bɪkˌeɪm ɐ kjʊɹɹˈeɪɾɚɹ æt ðə nˈæʃənəl ɡˈælɚɹi ʌv vɪktˈoːɹiə, ɹˈaɪzɪŋ tə dᵻɹˈɛktɚ fɹʌm nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi tˈuː tə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti sˈɪks.
In 1940, he became a curator at the National Gallery of Victoria, rising to director from 1942 to 1956.