Lilian Turner

Born in England in 1867, Lilian Wattnall Burwell later moved to Australia with her family and became known as Lilian Turner. She and her younger sister, Ethel Turner, both used their stepfather's surname and went on to become published writers.

While still young, the sisters edited schoolgirl magazines including Iris and Parthenon, and Lilian developed a long writing career of her own. She wrote extensively for younger readers, producing more than twenty books, many aimed at teenage girls, and also wrote romantic fiction for older readers.

Though Ethel is often the more famous name today, Lilian Turner was an important author in her own right. Her work helped shape early Australian writing for girls and young women, and her stories remain part of the country's literary history.