Joseph Furphy (1843-1912) was an author, poet, farmer, bullock-driver, and iron worker. He is best known as the author of the novel Such is Life: Being Certain Extracts From the Diary of Tom Collins (1903), which is widely regarded as a classic piece of Australian literature. He … [Read more...] about Joseph Furphy
IAC biographies
Don Bradman, legend of Australian cricket
Don Bradman was Australia’s greatest sportsman, being the most successful batsman to have ever emerged in the history of cricket — not just in Australia, but in the entire world. Donald George Bradman was born in Cootamundra, New South Wales, on the 27th of August 1908. He … [Read more...] about Don Bradman, legend of Australian cricket
Mary Hannay Foott
Mary Hannay Foott (née Black) was a Scottish-Australian author, editor, and poet, whose most well-known work is the poem “Where the Pelican Builds”. She was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on 26 September 1846, and moved to Victoria with her family in 1853, where she became a … [Read more...] about Mary Hannay Foott
Dorothea Mackellar
Isobel Marion Dorothea Mackellar (1885-1968), known as Dorothea, was a poet and author. Her literary output included three novels and five books of poetry. Mackellar is best known for her famous poem “My Country” (which was originally published as “Core of My Heart”). Dorothea … [Read more...] about Dorothea Mackellar
Henry Kendall
Henry Kendall was an Australian poet of high renown, being regarded as “Australia’s greatest lyric poet”.[1] He is particularly well-known for his poems dealing with Australian life and landscape, such as “Bell-Birds”, “Christmas Creek”, and “On a Cattle Track”. His poem about … [Read more...] about Henry Kendall
Charles Harpur
[Editor: This article provides biographical information on Charles Harpur; for various works by him, click here.] Charles Harpur was Australia’s first significant native-born poet and has been described as “The father of Australian poetry”.[1] He has often been credited as … [Read more...] about Charles Harpur
Grant Hervey
[Editor: This article provides biographical information about Grant Hervey; for various works by him, click here.] Grant Hervey was born in Casterton, Victoria, on 30 November 1880. His birth name was George Henry Cochrane, although he changed his name to Grant Madison … [Read more...] about Grant Hervey
John O’Brien (Patrick Joseph Hartigan)
John O’Brien was the pen-name of Patrick Joseph Hartigan (1878-1952), an author, poet, and Catholic priest. He wrote four books (two of which were published posthumously). O’Brien is best known for his first book of poetry, Around the Boree Log and Other Verses (1921). Patrick … [Read more...] about John O’Brien (Patrick Joseph Hartigan)
C. J. Dennis
C. J. Dennis was a poet and author, widely known for his popular book The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke. He was born in Auburn, South Australia, on 7 September 1876. C. J. was well-known for including the common language of the Australian people in his poetry, using slang and … [Read more...] about C. J. Dennis