Mary Grant Bruce

Born Minnie Bruce in Victoria in 1878, she became known to readers as Mary Grant Bruce. She was an Australian children's author and journalist, and she is most closely associated with the long-running Billabong series.

Her books follow the Linton family of Billabong Station and helped shape a popular picture of Australian country life for young readers. Alongside the local settings and adventure, some of the stories also reach beyond Australia, including events linked to the First World War.

Bruce died in 1958, but her work remained widely remembered through the continuing popularity of the Billabong novels. For many readers, she remains one of the classic voices of early Australian children's fiction.