2004 Winner of the Packing Room Prize, Evert Ploeg's portrait of Jana Wendt
Left to right: Jana Wendt, artist Evert Ploeg and the Gallery's head storeman, Steve Peters.

 
The Packing Room Prize is a prize awarded to the work selected by the Gallery staff who are responsible for unpacking, sorting, storing and installing the works for the Archibald Prize.

Steve Peters is the Art Gallery's head storeman and has been around to witness twenty Archibald Prize competitions. The Packing Room Prize started in 1992 and has since become an integral part of the Archibald Prize competition. The Packing Room Prize has not to this date coincided with the judges' official decision. The 2004 winner was Evert Ploeg with his portrait of Jana Wendt (above). Some of the other years' winners include Martin Ball for his portrait of Neil Finn in 2008, Jan Williamson for Rachel Ward in 2003, Deny Christian for Garry McDonald in 1999, Kerrie Lester for Self portrait as a bridesmaid in 1998, Bill Leak for Tex Perkins in 1997 and Paul Newtown for John Laws in 1996.

See a list of all previous winners