Famous Australian Non-Fiction Writers

Vote for Your Favourite Australian Non-Fiction Writers

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 1 
Germaine Greer
4
Birthdate: January 29, 1939
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia

Australian author and feminist Germaine Greer made headlines with her first book, The Female Eunuch, which focused on female sexuality. Greer’s career boasts of a PhD in literature, and she has also taught at the University of Warwick and other institutes. She was later named an Australian National Living Treasure.

 2 
Saroo Brierley
(Businessman and Author of His Autobiographical Book ‘A Long Way Home’)
Saroo Brierley
4
Birthdate: 1981 AD
Birthplace: Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, India

Indian-born Australian entrepreneur and author Saroo Brierley was separated from his mother at 5, when he accidentally boarded a train to Howrah station from Burhanpur. He ended up being adopted by an Australian couple. He later found his mother via Google Earth. His autobiography was adapted into the film Lion.

 3 
David Unaipon
(Preacher)
David Unaipon
3
Birthdate: September 28, 1872
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: South Australia
Died: February 7, 1967

David Unaipon was an Aboriginal Australian preacher, author, and inventor. He is best remembered for his significant contribution to Australian society, which helped break several stereotypes about Aboriginal Australians. Apart from establishing a couple of awards in his honor, the Australian government has also featured Unaipon on the Australian fifty-dollar note.

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 4 
Ken Ham
(Australian Christian Fundamentalist and the Founder & CEO of 'Answers in Genesis', a Christian Apologetics Organization)
Ken Ham
3
Birthdate: October 20, 1951
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Cairns Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Ken Ham is an Australian Christian fundamentalist, apologist, and young-Earth creationist. He is the founder of Answers in Genesis (AiG), a Christian apologetics organization. Ham advocates accepting the Book of Genesis creation narrative as a historical fact and has been criticized for his unscientific views. He views homosexuality as a sin and is against same-sex marriage. 

 5 
J. L. Mackie
(Australian Philosopher)
J. L. Mackie
3
Birthdate: August 25, 1917
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Sydney, Australia
Died: December 12, 1981

Australian philosopher J. L. Mackie is known for his invaluable contribution the philosophy of religion and metaphysics. He believed objective values don’t exist. Best known for his book Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong, he introduced ideas such as the argument from queerness that supported moral nihilism.

 6 
Kate Grenville
(Australian Author)
Kate Grenville
2
Birthdate: October 14, 1950
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Sydney, Australia

Australian author Kate Grenville is best known for her Orange Prize-winning novel The Idea of Perfection and the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize-winning book The Secret River. She has previously also edited documentaries and taught creative writing. The Officer of the Order of Australia awardee has also earned several honorary doctorates.

 7 
Elizabeth Jolley
(Australian Writer and Pioneer of Creative Writing Teaching in Australia)
Elizabeth Jolley
1
Birthdate: June 4, 1923
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Birmingham, England
Died: February 13, 2007

Elizabeth Jolley was an English-born Australian author who wrote 15 novels, three non-fiction books, and four short story collections after beginning to write at the age of 53. Jolley, who achieved significant critical acclaim for her work, also taught at Curtin University where she mentored several writers like Tim Winton. She also won several awards like National Book Council Award.

 8 
Georges LeBar
0
Birthdate: January 24, 1973
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Perth, Australia
Better known as American drag queen RuPaul Charles’s husband, Georges LeBar is an accomplished painter who has held many exhibitions. He also owns a ranch in Wyoming and had met RuPaul at a nightclub. The camera-shy Australian initially worked in the fashion industry and has also penned two books.