Journalist, Poet, Social Activist. Born in Cotta Walla, New South Wales, Australia, she became interested in socialism during her early years as a teacher. She joined William Lane's utopian New Australia experiment in Cosme, Paraguay and married William Gilmore there in 1897. Disillusioned, they returned to Australia in 1902. Gilmore became the first woman member of the Australian Workers Union and was editor of the women's pages of the "Australian Worker" newspaper for 23 years, in addition to producing more than 20 volumes of poetry and essays. She also fought for the rights of indigenous Australians, child labourers and underpaid rural workers. She separated from her husband when he went to establish properties near Cloncurry in northwest Queensland. In 1937 she was made Dame Mary Gimore by King George VI for her services to Australian Literature. She died at her home in Kings Cross, New South Wales of broncho-pneumonia in her 98th year. In her honor, the Association for the Study of Australian Literature awards the Mary Gilmore Prize every two years for the best first book of poetry. Her picture is on the Australian $10 note.
Journalist, Poet, Social Activist. Born in Cotta Walla, New South Wales, Australia, she became interested in socialism during her early years as a teacher. She joined William Lane's utopian New Australia experiment in Cosme, Paraguay and married William Gilmore there in 1897. Disillusioned, they returned to Australia in 1902. Gilmore became the first woman member of the Australian Workers Union and was editor of the women's pages of the "Australian Worker" newspaper for 23 years, in addition to producing more than 20 volumes of poetry and essays. She also fought for the rights of indigenous Australians, child labourers and underpaid rural workers. She separated from her husband when he went to establish properties near Cloncurry in northwest Queensland. In 1937 she was made Dame Mary Gimore by King George VI for her services to Australian Literature. She died at her home in Kings Cross, New South Wales of broncho-pneumonia in her 98th year. In her honor, the Association for the Study of Australian Literature awards the Mary Gilmore Prize every two years for the best first book of poetry. Her picture is on the Australian $10 note.
Bio by: Mary Jo C. Martin
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