Robert Hannaford

Robert Lyall "Alfie" Hannaford AM, (born 9 November 1944) is an Australian realist artist notable for his drawings, paintings, portraits and sculptures. He is a great-great-great-grandson of Susannah Hannaford.

Hannaford was born and grew up on his family's farm in the Gilbert Valley near Riverton, South Australia, attending Riverton Primary and High Schools. Born to Claude and Vera (nee Hoare), he has two elder brothers (Ian and Donald) and a younger sister (Kay).

In 1960, aged 16, he moved to Adelaide to complete his schooling at Prince Alfred College. He met Kate Gilfillan in 1964. In 1967–68 he studied in Ballarat, marrying Kate in 1968. They moved to Melbourne in 1969 living there for four years, where their two children (Tom and Georgina) were born.

He returned to South Australia in 1974 living in Riverton, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, and from 1981–87, West Hindmarsh. His daughter Tsering was born in 1987. Also in 1987, Hannaford bought a disused farmhouse and outbuildings at Peters Hill near Riverton and commenced converting them into a dwelling and studio. He subsequently bought other properties in the township, including a garage complex.

On 1 January 2001 Hannaford (of West Hindmarsh) was awarded the Centenary Medal "For service to the community through art".

In 2006 Hannaford was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. In 2007 conversion of the garage in Riverton into The Riverton Light Gallery commenced. Also in 2007, Hannaford married Alison Mitchell.

On 9 June 2014 Hannaford (of Riverton) was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) "For significant service to the visual arts as a painter and sculptor". Also in 2014 he received the Premier's Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Ruby Awards.

Hannaford's youngest daughter, Tsering, is also a notable South Australian artist. Like her father, she specializes in portraiture, landscapes and still life, and has been a finalist for the Archibald prize. She became a full-time artist in 2013.

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