• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Naval Historical Society of Australia

Preserving Australia's Naval History

  • Events
  • Account
  • Members Area
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Show Search
  • 0 items
Hide Search
Menu
  • Home
  • Research
    • Where to start
      • Research – We can help!
      • Self help
      • Naval Service Records
      • Library
      • Related Maritime websites
    • Resources
      • Articles
      • Videos
      • On This Day
      • Podcasts
      • Australian Military Ship Losses
      • RAN events on a  Google Earth Map
      • RAN Vessels – Where are they now?
      • Related Maritime websites
    • Other
      • Newsletters: Call The Hands
      • Occasional Papers and Historical Booklets
      • Books
      • HMAS Shropshire
      • Book reviews
    • Close
  • Naval Heritage Sites
    • World Heritage Listings
      • Cockatoo Island
    • National Heritage Listings
      • HMAS Sydney II and the HSK Kormoran Shipwreck Sites
      • HMVS Cerberus
    • Commonwealth Heritage Listings
      • Garden Island NSW
      • HMAS Watson
      • HMAS Penguin
      • Spectacle Island Explosives Complex NSW
      • Chowder Bay Naval Facilities
      • Beecroft Peninsula NSW
      • Admiralty House, Garden and Fortifications
      • HMAS Cerberus
      • Naval Offices QLD
      • Garden Island WA
      • Royal Australian Naval College ACT
      • Royal Australian Naval Transmitting Station ACT
    • NSW Heritage Listings
      • HMAS Rushcutter
    • Close
  • Naval Art
  • Tours & Cruises
    • Navy in Sydney Harbour Cruise, East
    • Navy in Sydney Harbour Cruise, West
    • Anniversary Cruise: Sydney under Japanese Attack
    • Tour Bookings
    • Close
  • About us
    • About Us
      • What we do
      • Our People
      • Office Bearers
      • Become a volunteer
      • Our Goals and Strategy
    • Organisation
      • Victoria Chapter
      • WA Chapter
      • ACT Chapter
    • Close
  • Membership
  • Shop
  • Become a volunteer
  • Donate
You are here: Home / Artworks / Phil Belbin

Phil Belbin

(Born Sydney, 9 August 1925. Died 1993)

Phil Belbin was interested in art from a young age and a prolific drawer. He is said to have produced his first comic book at the age of eleven and had his first published work, a calendar for a metallurgist, at the age of thirteen. He studied art for two years at East Sydney Technical College. In 1942 Belbin had further training for one year at Sydney's The Sun newspaper as an intern in the art department.

In 1943 Belbin enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force and served as an armourer in the Pacific Islands. Following his demobilisation in March 1946, Belbin found work at Frank Johnson Publications as an illustrator. In 1947 Belbin went to work for K.G. Murray Publishing Company. He created cartoons, comic strips and artwork for the company over the next 30 years.

Throughout his time at the publishing house Belbin also worked as a freelance illustrator for other publications and illustrated campaigns for advertising agencies and numerous private commissions. Belbin's list of commercial art clients grew to include local and international engineering, aerospace, and transportation companies.

In 1974 Belbin was awarded a 'Citation of Merit' by the New York Society of Illustrator and in 1984 he was elected as a fellow by the Royal Society of Arts, London.

Throughout his life Belbin had maintained a keen interest in steam transport - ships and trains. In addition to his print illustrations, Belbin also painted scenes of shipping and steam trains whose accurate details were highly regarded.

Belbin was asked to illustrate the book “The Royal Australian Navy: the first seventy-five years”. This book contains twenty-six outstanding ship paintings and several drawings by Phil Belbin. The text was by Ross Gillett. It was published by Child & Henry in 1989.

Phil Belbin passed away in 1993, succumbing to motor neurone disease.

  • Additional resources for Phil Belbin
    • Phil Belbin, Australian National Maritime Museum (sea.museum)
    • Phil Belbin, Wikipedia
    • AustLit: Discover Australian Stories

Fairmile type HDML 1324 in foreground

HMAS AE2 in the Dardanelles, 1915

First Fleet Entry 1913

HMAS VAMPIRE, MELBOURNE and PARRAMATTA

HMA ships LABUAN and FREMANTLE with OBERON submarine

HMA Ships MORESBY and ATTACK post 1967

HMAS Arunta HMAS Westralia with US Navy Light Cruser

Sydney Harbour looking east to Garden Island from Dawes Point

MV KRAIT and Japanese Destroyer in 1943

HMAS Albatross (l) operating her Sea Gull III amphibian aircraft by Phil Belbin

HMAS Albatross (l) operating her Seagull III amphibian aircraft

HMAS Australia (ll) under attack by Japanese aircraft byPhil Belbin

HMAS Australia (ll) under attack by Japanese aircraft

HMAS Childers (HMVS) by Phil Belbin

The torpedo boat Childers and gun boat Protector exercising with Countess of Hopetoun on Port Phillip Bay, circa 1915

HMAS Darwin engaging in a personnel transfer by Phil Belbin

HMAS Darwin engaging in a personnel transfer

HMAS Deloraine presses home her attack on Japanese fleet submarine I-124 by Phil Belbin

HMAS Deloraine presses home her attack on Japanese fleet submarine I-124

HMAS Diamantina by Phil Belbin

HMAS Diamantina

HMAS Encounter capturing Zambezi in August 1914 by Phil Belbin

HMAS Encounter capturing Zambezi in August 1914

HMAS Hobart by Phil Belbin

HMAS Hobart

HMAS Parramatta deploying kite balloon by Phil Belbin

HMAS Parramatta deploying kite balloon

HMAS Perth in Java Sea 1942 by Phil Belbin

HMAS Perth in Java Sea 1942

HMAS Pioneer in East Africa 1915 by Phil Belbin

HMAS Pioneer in East Africa 1915

HMAS Stuart sinking the Italian submarine Condar 1940 by Phil Belbin

HMAS Stuart sinking the Italian submarine Condar 1940

HMAS Ships Sydney and Tobruk off Korea in 1952 by Phil Belbin

HMAS Ships Sydney and Tobruk off Korea in 1952

HMAS Sydney during Battle of Cape Spada in 1940

The sea battle between HMAS Sydney and the German cruiser Emden, 9 November 1914 by Phil Belbin

The sea battle between HMAS Sydney and the German cruiser Emden, 9 November 1914

Explore all Naval Art
  • Research – We can help!
  • Naval Heritage Sites
  • Explore Naval Art
  • Dockyard Heritage Tour
  • About us
  • Shop
  • Events
  • Members Area
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Members Area
  • Privacy Policy

Naval Historical Society of Australia Inc. Copyright © 2025