Each year, the famous Archibald Prize, which opens to the public this month, captures international attention, not just for its incredible portraits but for the stories behind the subjects of the paintings. 

Since it was established in 1921, the Archibald Prize, awarded by the Art Gallery of NSW, has become Australia’s most prestigious annual portraiture award. 

It recognises the best portrait of a distinguished person, whether from science, the arts, business, politics or public life. Importantly, the portrait must be painted by an Australian or New Zealand artist, meaning the prize has long been open to some of Australasia’s finest creative talent. 

Over the years, a ‘who’s who’ of artists has won the prestigious award, including William Dobell in 1943, 1948 and 1959, Brett Whiteley in 1976 and 1978, Wendy Sharpe in 1996, Christchurch-born artist Euan Macleod in 1999 for Self-portrait/head like a hole, and John Olsen in 2005. 

However, often the most compelling portraits aren’t always the most technically perfect. Rather, they reveal something deeper about the person sitting for the artist. In many ways, the same principle applies in real estate. 

At its core, selling property isn’t just about bedrooms, square metres or recent comparable sales. It’s about fleshing out what makes a property unique, including its character, rhythm, and lifestyle opportunities. The skill is then to present the property in a way that connects with the right buyer. 

To this end, the best agents operate more like storytellers than salespeople. They look beyond the obvious features, such as the number of bedrooms, identifying the details that give a property its identity – and whether it’s the way natural light moves through a living space, the history behind a long-held family property, or the potential for a new beginning for the aspiring buyers. 

According to Michael Harris, Director of Raine & Horne Newtown, a Lifetime Member of the Raine & Horne Chairman’s Club, the ability to paint a property in its best light is what separates a good campaign from a great one. 

“When I walk into a home, I’m not just looking at the bones of the property. I’m looking at how it feels,” Michael explained. “That’s what buyers respond to. It’s the same as art, as you connect with something beyond what’s in front of you.” 

Michael has more than a passing interest in the Archibald. In a quirk that neatly bridges art and real estate, he once took out the Archibald Public Choice vote at the exhibition and promptly spent the substantial prize money on a state-of-the-art coffee machine. 

Michael said the shift to more visual real estate marketing has made storytelling even more important. “Property is incredibly visual now. We style everything, and we use video, because a picture really does tell a thousand words.” 

The storytelling begins well before a campaign goes live. “It starts with the pricing strategy, the presentation, the photography and the copy,” Michael said. “You’re not just telling people how many bedrooms there are, you’re bringing out the lifestyle opportunities and showing them why they want to live there.” 

In lifestyle-driven markets such as Newtown in Sydney’s lively Inner West, that story frequently centres on the energy and character of a location, which are elements that strongly strike a chord with the right buyers. 

“I’ve listed a property near King Street, one of Sydney’s most vibrant and eclectic strips,” Michael said. “But that’s exactly why people want to live there. You’re telling a story that helps the right buyer see themselves in that unique King Street environment.” 

The property Michael is referring to is a magnificent Victorian-era five-bedroom sanctuary at 40 Brown Street, Newtown that is set to go under the hammer on Saturday, 30 May 2026, at 10:00 am. 

Originally built in 1894, this breathtaking, freestanding, two-storey terrace showcases Sydney’s remarkable pre-Federation charm and a rare sense of grandeur, complemented using a seamless array of renovations designed to provide the latest in modern living. 

History can serve a role, especially when it adds to the overall picture. “If a property has a genuine story behind it, it can give you an additional layer to work with,” said Michael. “It opens up more opportunities, but it has to add to the story you’re telling.” 

Like a winning Archibald portrait, a successful real estate campaign will capture more than just appearances. It will reveal something meaningful about a property, and when it does, it doesn’t just attract buyer interest – it will drive results. 

The Archibald Prize 2026 exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) in Sydney will open to the public on 9 May 2026 and will run until 16 August 2026. 

For more information about the exquisite and historic 40 Brown Street, Newtown, contact Raine & Horne Newtown on 02 8596 3555.