Mary Durack
Mary Durack was an influential Australian author born on February 20, 1913, in Adelaide. Growing up on her family's cattle station in East Kimberley, she developed a deep connection with the land and its Indigenous cultures. Her early exposure to writing, encouraged by her parents, led to the publication of her first book at just ten years old. Durack's literary career spanned various genres, including works aimed at both children and adults, where she focused on themes related to Aboriginal culture and history.
Throughout her life, she received numerous accolades recognizing her contributions to literature, including the Order of the British Empire and the Order of Australia. Durack was also active in the literary community, serving as president of the Fellowship of Australian Writers' Western Australian Branch and contributing to various publications, including a newspaper column under the pseudonym Virgilia. She chronicled her family's history in notable works like "Kings in Grass Castles" and aimed to promote understanding of Aboriginal peoples in her writings. Durack's legacy continues through awards and fellowships named in her honor, reflecting her impact on Australian literature and her efforts to foster empathy towards Indigenous communities. She passed away on December 16, 1994, leaving behind a significant literary and cultural legacy.
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Subject Terms
Mary Durack
- Born: February 20, 1913
- Birthplace: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Died: December 16, 1994
- Place of death: Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Biography
Mary Durack was born on February 20, 1913, at Adelaide, Australia, the oldest daughter of cattle rancher Michael Patrick Durack and Bessie Ida Muriel (née Johnstone) Durack. She first lived on her parents’ vast Ivanhoe station in East Kimberley, an area in northwestern Australia, becoming familiar with native Aborigines and their culture. Her grandfather had been a pioneer settler, establishing Argyle station, which she visited.
Durack moved with her family to Perth, Australia, where her father served in parliament. She studied at the Loreto Convent and enjoyed writing verses. When Durack was ten, her parents arranged publication of her first book, Little Poems of Sunshine by an Australian Child.
Durack received her diploma in 1929 and chose to resume her life at her family’s stations. She cooked for hired hands and earned wages performing chores. When her younger sister, Elizabeth Durack, returned to the station, they worked together to create books. Durack wrote the story for All-About: The Story of a Black Community on Argyle Station, Kimberley, which her sister illustrated. They spent their income on a year- long European trip.
Durack sailed home to Australia in 1937, accepting a writing position with the Western Mail. On December 2, 1938, she married aviator Captain Horace Clive Miller, who established an airline. They had four daughters and two sons and resided in Perth.
From 1958 to 1963, Durack served as president of the Fellowship of Australian Writers’ Western Australian Branch in Swanbourne. In 1966, Durack received the Order of the British Empire. Eleven years later, she was appointed Dame Commander, Order of the British Empire. By 1983, she became an emeritus fellow of the Literature Board of Australia. In 1989, she was presented the Order of Australia. A widow since 1980, Durack died of cancer on December 16, 1994, at Perth.
Durack chronicled her family’s history in two books, Kings in Grass Castles and Sons in the Saddle, using records preserved by her ancestors. In such books as The Way of the Whirlwind, Durack wrote about Aborigines, hoping to enhance children’s understanding of those people. In addition to creating fiction for young and adult readers, Durack edited documents and collections with other authors. Using the name Virgilia, she penned a newspaper column for West Australian, addressing issues concerning rural women. She researched and wrote historical articles for Walkabout magazine. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation hired Durack to write scripts.
Scholars recognized Durack’s pioneering efforts to depict Aborigines in literature for young readers and expand their knowledge and empathy for those peoples. She received several grants to support her writing. The Children’s Book Council praised her book The Courteous Savage: Yagan of Swan River (later renamed Yagan of the Bibbulmun), as a notable novel in 1965. In 1982, the Australian Society of Women Writers honored Durack with its Alice Award. Curtin University named her a fellow in 1987. Both International PEN Australia and the Fellowship of Australian Writers designated Durack an honorary life member. An Australian writing award and lectureship were named in Durack’s honor.