University Of Melbourne Notable Alumni

Discover the notable alumni of University Of Melbourne. The list includes people like Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Julian Assange, Barry Humphries & Peter Singer. This list of notable alumni is loosely sorted by popularity and has people from different domains of life, such as leaders, film & theater personalities, media personalities, miscellaneous and writers etc.
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 1 
Cate Blanchett
(One of the Finest and Most Versatile Actresses of Her Generation)
Cate Blanchett
101
Birthdate: May 14, 1969
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Ivanhoe, Australia

Cate Blanchett is one of the most celebrated actresses of her times. She attained fame with the drama film, Elizabeth, in 1998. The Aviator, Blue Jasmine, Notes on a Scandal, Carol, The Talented Mr Ripley, Babel and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button are some of her other acclaimed and successful films. She has won two Academy awards so far.

 2 
Gotye
(Founding Member of The Melbourne Indie-Pop Trio 'The Basics')
Gotye
24
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: May 21, 1980
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bruges, Belgium
Belgian-born Australian singer Gotye initially formed the indie-pop group The Basics. The three-time Grammy-winning artist has also had a successful solo career and is best known for his Billboard-topping track Somebody That I Used to Know, which made him the fifth Australian artist to top the Billboard charts.
 3 
Harold Holt
(Former Prime Minister of Australia)
Harold Holt
21
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: August 5, 1908
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Stanmore
Died: December 17, 1967

Harold Holt was an Australian politician and the 17th prime minister of Australia. On 17 December 1967, Holt disappeared while swimming in rough conditions at Cheviot Beach. Following his disappearance, which gave rise to several conspiracy theories, Harold Holt was presumed dead. The Harold Holt Memorial Swimming Centre in Melbourne is named in his honor.

 4 
Cathy Freeman
(Australian Former Sprinter Who Specialised in the 400 metres Event)
Cathy Freeman
24
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 16, 1973
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Mackay, Queensland, Australia

Cathy Freeman is a former sprinter known for her achievements in the 400 meters events. Her personal best of 48.63, set at the 1996 Olympics, makes her the eighth-fastest woman of all time. She gave Australia an Olympic gold at the 2000 Olympics. Also a humanitarian, Freeman is credited with founding the Cathy Freeman Foundation.

 5 
Judith Durham
(Australian Singer, Songwriter and Musician)
Judith Durham
7
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: July 3, 1943
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Essendon, Australia

Judith Durham is an Australian musician, singer, and songwriter. In 1963, she became the lead singer of the popular folk-influenced pop quartet The Seekers, which became the first Australian pop band to achieve major sales and chart success in the United States and the United Kingdom. Her services to music earned her the title Victorian of the Year in 2015.

 6 
Julian Assange
(Computer programmer)
Julian Assange
68
Birthdate: July 3, 1971
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Townsville, Australia

Julian Assange made headlines all over the world in 2010 when WikiLeaks, a non-profit organization founded by him, gained international attention after publishing leaks, such as the Afghanistan war logs and Iraq war logs. After dodging arrest for several years, he was finally arrested in 2019 and is currently imprisoned in HM Prison Belmarsh.

 7 
Angela White
(Australian Porn Actor and Director)
Angela White
71
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: March 4, 1985
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Sydney, Australia

Award-winning Australian porn actor-director Angela White now mostly works in the US. Part of the AVN Hall of Fame, is a gender studies graduate from the University of Melbourne and has conducted extensive research on pornography. She became the first Fleshlight Girl from Australia and has also been a webcam model.

 8 
Germaine Greer
14
Listed In: Writers
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.

 9 
Robert Menzies
(12th Prime Minister of Australia)
Robert Menzies
9
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: December 20, 1894
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Jeparit
Died: May 15, 1978

Robert Menzies was an Australian politician who served as the prime minister of Australia on two non-consecutive terms. He served over 18 years in total, becoming the longest-serving prime minister in Australian history. His government is known for its emphasis on higher education, national security policies, and immigration schemes. After retirement, he became the chancellor of the University of Melbourne. 

 10 
Julia Gillard
(27th Prime Minister of Australia (2010 - 2013))
Julia Gillard
43
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: September 29, 1961
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Barry, Wales
Julia Gillard was the Australian prime minister from 2010 to 2013. She became the first lady prime minister, deputy prime minister, and leader of a political party in Australia. She has also held other significant positions, such as the minister of education. She has now devoted her life to academics.
 11 
Barry Humphries
(Actor, Author and Comedian Best Known for His Character ‘Dame Edna Everage’ on TV Show)
Barry Humphries
11
Birthdate: February 17, 1934
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Kew, Australia
Australian comedian and satirist Barry Humphries is best known for his stage/TV alter egos Sir Les Patterson and Dame Edna Everage. He has also written plays for London's West End and also published an award-winning autobiography. Known for his Dadaist humor, he is also a skilled landscape painter.
 12 
Ronny Chieng
(Comedian)
Ronny Chieng
5
Birthdate: November 21, 1985
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Johor Bahru, Malaysia
 13 
Alfred Deakin
(Former Prime Minister of Australia)
Alfred Deakin
9
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: August 3, 1856
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Melbourne
Died: October 7, 1919

The second prime minister of Australia and Federation movement leader Alfred Deakin had developed an interest in literature and philosophy and had written several pieces of drama and poetry while studying to be a barrister. He later joined the Liberal Party. He spent his final years struggling with memory loss.

 14 
Elizabeth Blackburn
(Biological Researcher and Winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Medicine)
Elizabeth Blackburn
8
Birthdate: November 26, 1948
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Hobart, Australia

Nobel Prize-winning Australian-American biochemist and molecular biologist Elizabeth Blackburn is best known for co-discovering the enzyme telomerase. She was allegedly removed from the American President's Council on Bioethics over her support for stem cell research, which went against the government. She has honorary doctorate degrees from Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.

 15 
Elizabeth Debicki
(Actress Known for her Role in The Great Gatsby (2013))
Elizabeth Debicki
33
Birthdate: August 24, 1990
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Paris, France
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 16 
Peter Singer
(Australian Philosopher Who is Known for His Book ‘Animal Liberation’)
Peter Singer
5
Birthdate: July 6, 1946
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia

Australian moral philosopher, Peter Singer, is currently the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University. He specializes in applied ethics. He is best known for his book Animal Liberation, which is considered a seminal work in the animal liberation movement.  The Council of Australian Humanist Societies recognized him as the Australian Humanist of the Year in 2004.

 17 
Magda Szubanski
(Comedy Actress Known for Her Role as 'Sharon Strzelecki' in the Situational Comedy 'Kath & Kim')
Magda Szubanski
3
Birthdate: April 12, 1961
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Liverpool, Merseyside, England

Well-known Australian comedienne Magda Szubanski soared to fame with her performances in shows such as Kath and Kim, D-Generation, and Fast Forward. She has also been part of movies such as Happy Feet and penned a bestselling memoir. An open lesbian, she is also an LGBT activist.

 18 
Randeep Hooda
(Actor, Model)
Randeep Hooda
0
Birthdate: August 20, 1976
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Rohtak
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 19 
Penelope Mitchell
(Australian Actress Best Known for her Roles in the TV Series: 'The Vampire Diaries' and 'Hemlock Grove')
Penelope Mitchell
2
Birthdate: July 24, 1991
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
Cousin of actor Radha Mitchell, Penelope Mitchell was born to a French mother and an Australian father and grew up in Melbourne. Best known for her roles in Hemlock Grove and The Vampire Diaries, Penelope is a trained ballerina. She was academically brilliant and had plans of becoming a lawyer.
 20 
Portia de Rossi
(Known for Her Role in the TV Series 'Ally McBeal')
Portia de Rossi
17
Birthdate: January 31, 1973
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Horsham, Australia

Businesswoman and philanthropist, Portia de Rossi, is the founder and CEO of the art company, General Public. A former actress and model, she is best known for starring in the TV drama series, Ally McBeal. After a successful acting career that spanned over 20 years, she retired from acting to focus on her business ventures.

 21 
Hamish Blake
(Writer, Actor)
Hamish Blake
2
Birthdate: December 11, 1981
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Melbourne

Part of the comedy duo Hamish and Andy, Hamish Blake has entertained audiences on various TV and radio shows, such as the Logie Award-winning Hamish and Andy's Gap Year. Not known to many, Hamish had dropped out of a double university degree in science and commerce, to step into comedy.

 22 
Missy Higgins
(Singer-songwriter, Musician)
Missy Higgins
2
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: August 19, 1983
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia

Australian singer-songwriter Missy Higgins is known for her chartbusting singles such as Scar and Where I Stood. She has also performed at international events such as TEDx. Her hit album The Sound of White made it to the top 5 of the End of Decade Top 100 Albums Chart in 2010.

 23 
Kerry Greenwood
(Australian Author Best known for Her Series of Historical Detective Novels about the Fictional Character Phryne Fisher)
Kerry Greenwood
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 1954 AD
Birthplace: Footscray, Australia

Kerry Greenwood is an Australian author and lawyer who writes children’s books, mystery, science fiction, and historical fiction. She is best known for her series of historical detective novels about the fictional character Phryne Fisher. She has a law degree and worked full-time as a criminal defense lawyer before becoming a professional writer. She has won a Davitt Award.

 24 
Julia Zemiro
(Television presenter)
Julia Zemiro
3
Birthdate: April 14, 1967
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Aix-en-Provence

Best known as the host of RocKwiz, French-Australian presenter Julia Zemiro is a trained theater actor, too, who has worked with the likes of the Bell Shakespeare Company. She has hosted her own interview show, Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery, and has been on shows such as Thank God You’re Here.

 25 
Geoffrey Edelsten
(Entrepreneur, Physician)
Geoffrey Edelsten
1
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: May 2, 1943
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Melbourne

Geoffrey Edelsten was an Australian businessman best remembered for founding Allied Medical Group. A physician by profession, Edelsten attracted media attention for his luxurious lifestyle and unconventional clinics. He also had a brief music career; he owned a record company named Hit Productions in the 1960s. Edelsten's controversial personal life, which involved brushes with the law, overshadowed his professional achievements.

 26 
Sir John Eccles
(Australian Neurophysiologist Who Won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for His Work on the Synapse)
Sir John Eccles
2
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: January 27, 1903
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
Died: May 2, 1997

Sir John Eccles was a philosopher and neurophysiologist whose services to physiological research earned him the title of Knight Bachelor in 1958. His work on the synapse earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, which he shared with Alan Lloyd Hodgkin and Andrew Huxley in 1963. The same year, he also received the Australian of the Year Award.

 27 
Helen Garner
(Journalist, Novelist, Screenwriter)
Helen Garner
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: November 7, 1942
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Geelong
 28 
Tahir Raj Bhasin
(Actor)
Tahir Raj Bhasin
3
Birthdate: April 21, 1987
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Delhi, India
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 29 
Pallavi Sharda
(Australian Actress of Indian Descent Who Works in Australian Films and Hindi Films)
Pallavi Sharda
4
Birthdate: March 5, 1990
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Perth, Australia

Pallavi Sharda is an Australian actress and Bharatanatyam dancer. Sharda, who is of Indian origin, has appeared in many Indian films in addition to playing important roles in Australian films. Pallavi Sharda was featured in the 40 most influential Asian Australians list at the first Asian-Australian Leadership Summit in 2019.

 30 
Morris West
(Australian Writer and Playwright Who Often Focused on International Politics in His works)
Morris West
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: April 26, 1916
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: St Kilda, Australia
Died: October 9, 1999

Morris West was an Australian writer and playwright who often focused on international politics in his works. He was highly acclaimed as a novelist and sold more than 60 million copies worldwide. Before becoming a professional writer, he ran his own radio production company. He was honored with the title of Officer of the Order of Australia.  

 31 
Feliks Zemdegs
(Known for Rubik's Cube speedsolver)
Feliks Zemdegs
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: December 20, 1995
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
 32 
Red Symons
(Australian Musician and Television and Radio Personality)
Red Symons
2
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: June 13, 1949
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Brighton, Sussex, England

Known for his signature horn-rimmed glasses and his sarcastic sense of humor, Red Symons gained fame as a judge on Red Faces and Australia's Got Talent. The Australian radio and TV personality has also performed as part of Skyhooks and used the pseudonym Red Pinko Sims for many recordings.

 33 
John Bluthal
(Legendary Polish-Australian Comedian and Actor Who Had a Successful Career in Britain)
John Bluthal
1
Birthdate: August 12, 1929
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Jezierzany, Galicia, Poland
Died: November 15, 2018

Best known for his portrayal of Frank Pickle in the British sitcom The Vicar of Dibley, John Bluthal was a veteran Polish-born Australian comedian and actor. He had an illustrious career in the UK and had appeared in a number of Carry On and Pink Panther movies.

 34 
Greg Hunt
(Politician)
Greg Hunt
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: November 18, 1965
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Melbourne
 35 
Desmond Chiam
(Actor role as Wyatt Cole on Reef Break, General Riga on The Shannara Chronicles)
Desmond Chiam
1
Birthdate: July 30, 1987
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 36 
Waleed Aly
(Radio personality, Television presenter, Lawyer, Songwriter)
Waleed Aly
5
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: August 15, 1978
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Melbourne

Waleed Aly is an Australian writer, lawyer, and TV personality. He completed his International Baccalaureate from Wesley College and furthered his education at the University of Melbourne. Besides pursuing a legal career, he also hosts several popular programs on TV and radio. He is married to  feminist author and academic Susan Carland.

 37 
Frank Macfarlane Burnet
(Australian Physician and Winner of the 1960 Nobel Prize in Medicine)
Frank Macfarlane Burnet
1
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: September 3, 1899
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Traralgon, Australia
Died: August 31, 1985

Frank Macfarlane Burnet was an Australian virologist. Best remembered for his contribution to immunology, Burnet won the 1960 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for predicting acquired immunological tolerance. Burnet is also credited with developing and popularizing the theory of clonal selection. In 1960, he was also named the Australian of the Year for his contributions to science. 

 38 
David Leyonhjelm
(Former Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party in the Senate)
David Leyonhjelm
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: April 1, 1952
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Nhill, Australia
 39 
James P. Gorman
(Australian-American Financier, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of 'Morgan Stanley')
James P. Gorman
2
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: July 14, 1958
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia

Australian-born American James P. Gorman had initially studied law and taken up a job at a law firm. The Columbia Business School alumnus then worked for firms such as McKinsey and Merrill Lynch, before serving as the CEO of Morgan Stanley. He also serves the US Federal Reserve Board and other boards.

 40 
Jana Wendt
(Gold Logie award-winning television journalist)
Jana Wendt
0
Birthdate: May 9, 1956
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
 41 
Michel Faber
(Famous for His Novel 'The Crimson Petal and the White')
Michel Faber
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: April 13, 1960
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: The Hague, Netherlands

Born in the Netherlands, author Michel Faber grew up in Australia. He now lives in Scotland, where he has won countless awards, and mostly writes in English. Initially a nurse, Faber later soared to fame with bestsellers such as The Crimson Petal and the White.

 42 
Stella Young
(Australian Disability Activist, Comedian, and Journalist)
Stella Young
1
Birthdate: February 24, 1982
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Stawell, Victoria, Australia
Died: December 6, 2014

Australian disability activist, comedian, and broadcast journalist Stella Young had worked extensively for the ABC. Born with a genetic disorder called osteogenesis imperfecta, or the brittle bone disease, she spent almost her entire life on a wheelchair. She died of an aneurysm at age 32.

 43 
David Karoly
(Australian Atmospheric Scientist)
David Karoly
1
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: July 12, 1955
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
 44 
Edward Dunlop
(Australian Surgeon Who Was Renowned for His Leadership During World War II)
Edward Dunlop
1
Listed In: Physicians
Birthdate: July 12, 1907
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Wangaratta, Australia
Died: July 2, 1993

Edward Dunlop was an Australian surgeon who was held prisoner by Japanese soldiers during the Second World War. After becoming a prisoner of war, Dunlop flaunted his leadership skills, for which he is remembered today. In 1988, he was included in the 200 Great Australians list.

 45 
Peter Warner
(Sailor)
Peter Warner
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: February 22, 1931
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
Died: April 13, 2021
 46 
John Flynn
(Minister)
John Flynn
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: November 25, 1880
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Moliagul, Australia
Died: May 5, 1951
 47 
Andrew Peacock
(Diplomat, Politician, Lawyer)
Andrew Peacock
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: February 13, 1939
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Melbourne

Andrew Peacock was an Australian politician and diplomat who became the leader of the Liberal Party on two occasions. He studied law at the University of Melbourne and ventured into politics while simultaneously practicing law. He was appointed to cabinet in 1969 and held a variety of portfolios, including that of the Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1975 to 1980. 

 48 
Ninian Stephen
(20th Governor-General of Australia)
Ninian Stephen
0
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: June 15, 1923
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Nettlebed, Oxfordshire, England
Died: October 29, 2017

Ninian Stephen was a prominent Australian judge. He served as the 20th Governor-General of Australia from 1982 to 1989. Prior to this, he had been a Justice of the High Court of Australia from 1972 to 1982. He was one of Australia's leading constitutional lawyers. He was also  Australia's first Ambassador for the Environment. 

 49 
John Forrest
(Australian Politician, Explorer and the First Premier of Western Australia)
John Forrest
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: August 22, 1847
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Bunbury, Australia
Died: September 2, 1918

John Forrest was an Australian politician and explorer. He is best remembered for his service as the first premier of Western Australia from 1890 to 1901. He also served as the Treasurer of Australia on four occasions between 1905 and 1918. A prominent politician, John Forrest also served as the Minister for Defence from 1901 to 1903.

 50 
Tiffiny Hall
(Television personality, Taekwondo Athletic)
Tiffiny Hall
13
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 11, 1984
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
Founded by Hugh Childers in the year 1853 is the University of Melbourne situated in Australia. It is a public research university and is in fact Australia’s second oldest university and Victoria’s oldest university. It includes 11 distinct academic units and has affiliations with several institutions and research centers. Being a sandstone university, it is a member of many prestigious groups such as the Universitas 21. With over 47,000 individuals comprising of the student body, diversity at its best is seen in the campus with 12,000 full-time students representing over 130 countries across the globe. The university offers undergraduate, postgraduate and higher research degrees in areas of Arts, Commerce, Science, Design, Fine Arts, Medicine and so on. As per the CWTS Leiden Ranking, the University of Melbourne was ranked 123rd in the world and 2nd in Australia. Times Higher Education has also deemed the university 33rd in the world. With various international connections and collaborations through seminars, courses, internship and leadership programs, the university gives its students the exposure and experience through its international networks. With over 2,80,000 alumni’s worldwide including academics, politicians, scientists, artists and leaders, the university has produced numerous distinguished celebrities who have conquered various spheres of life. Robert Menzies, Elizabeth Blackburn, John Monash and Peter Singer make up its list of honorable alumni’s. Presenting to you, a complete list of achievers who attended the University of Melbourne.