1939
Born 7 April, Sydney, Australia. Grew up at 18 Lucretia Avenue, Longueville.

1946
Won first art competition: annual RSPCA exhibition at Farmer's Blaxland Gallery for The driver sits in the Shade but what about the horse?

1948
Sent to boarding school at Scots College, Bathurst.

1954
Saw Lloyd Rees's European paintings exhibition at Macquarie Galleries, Sydney. Briefly attended Scots College, Sydney 1954-55.

1956
Awarded first prize, Young Painters' Section, Bathurst Show, New South Wales. Left school mid year, and worked in Sydney for Lintas Advertising Agency in the layout and commercial art department. His mother Beryl Whiteley left Australia for London.

1956-59
Met Wendy Julius, who was attending the National Art School East Sydney, where Whiteley and Michael Johnson occasionally drew at the Life drawing Class. Sometimes attended sketch clubs such as John Santry's sketch club (also frequented by Lloyd Rees) on Thursday nights. Used the glasshouse at his home in Longueville as a studio. Sporadically attended life drawing at Julian Ashton Art School. Painted on weekends around Bathurst, Sofala, Hill End and the south coast of New South Wales. Painted at Sydney Soup Kitchen and night refuge.

1959
Encouraged by Australian artist William Pidgeon, left Lintas in August to paint works for the Italian scholarship. In November awarded Italian Government Travelling Art Scholarship for 1960, judged by Sir Russell Drysdale at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Whiteley submitted four paintings: Sofala, Dixon street, July and Around Bathurst - the painting for which he was awarded the scholarship.