Dorothea Mackellar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dorothea Mackellar
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| Born | Isobel Marion Dorothea Mackellar 1 July 1885 Dunara, Point Piper, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 14 January 1968 (aged 82) Paddington, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Resting place | Waverley Cemetery |
| Occupation | Poet |
| Nationality | Australian |
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| Years active | 1908 – 1926 |
| Notable works | My Country |
| Relatives | Sir Charles Mackellar (father) |
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Isobel Marion Dorothea Mackellar (known as Dorothea Mackellar) was an Australian poet and writer. She was born on 1 July 1885 and passed away on 14 January 1968.
She is most famous for her poem My Country. This poem is very well-known in Australia. Its second part often comes to mind for many Australians. It starts with these famous lines: "I love a sunburnt country/A land of sweeping plains,/Of ragged mountain ranges,/Of droughts and flooding rains."
Contents
The Life of Dorothea Mackellar
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Dorothea Mackellar was the third child in her family. She was the only daughter of Sir Charles Mackellar, who was a doctor and a politician. She was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1885. Her family lived in a home called Dunara in Point Piper.
Later, her family moved to another home called Cintra. In 1925, she had a summer house built. This house, named "Tarrangaua," was in a quiet spot called Lovett Bay. You could only reach it by boat.
Dorothea was a financially independent woman. She wrote and published poems and other works between 1908 and 1926. She was also active in Sydney's writing community. She joined several literary clubs in the 1930s.
In her later years, Dorothea stopped writing. She faced health problems. She spent her last eleven years in a nursing home. She passed away in 1968 at the age of 82. She is buried in Waverley Cemetery in Sydney.
Poetry and Inspiration
Even though Dorothea grew up in a city family, her poems are often about the Australian countryside. She was inspired by her visits to her brothers' farms. These farms were near Gunnedah in New South Wales.
Her most famous poem, My Country, was written when she was just 19. She was feeling homesick while in England. It was first published in a London magazine called The Spectator in 1908. Back then, it was titled Core of My Heart. The second part of this poem is one of the most famous verses in Australia.
Dorothea published four collections of her poems:
- The Closed Door (1911) - This book included My Country for the first time.
- The Witch Maid, and Other Verses (1914)
- Dreamharbour (1923)
- Fancy Dress (1926)
Other Writings
Besides poetry, Dorothea Mackellar also wrote novels. She wrote one novel by herself, called Outlaw's Luck (1913). She also worked with another writer, Ruth Bedford, on at least two novels. These were The Little Blue Devil (1912) and Two's Company (1914).
Honours and Recognition
In 1968, Dorothea Mackellar received a special honour. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. This award recognized her important contribution to Australian literature. She passed away just two weeks after receiving this honour. She is buried with her family in Waverley Cemetery. Her favourite poem, Colour, was read at her funeral service.
Lasting Legacy
Dorothea Mackellar's memory lives on in several ways.
- A federal voting area in Sydney is named the Division of Mackellar in her honour. This area covers part of Sydney's Northern Beaches.
- A street in the Canberra suburb of Cook is also named after her.
On Australia Day in 1983, a memorial was opened in Gunnedah. It features a statue of Dorothea Mackellar riding a horse. This statue was created by Dennis Adams.
Artist Jean Isherwood created a series of 34 watercolour paintings. These paintings illustrated the poem My Country. They are now on permanent display in the Gunnedah Bicentennial Regional Gallery.
In 1984, a local resident named Mikie Maas started the "Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards." This has grown into a national poetry competition for Australian school students. It encourages young people to write their own poems.
Images for kids
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Dorothea Mackellar
