- Born
- 19 May 1874
Avon Plains, Victoria, Australia - Died
- 24 July 1961
Terrigal, New South Wales, Australia
Summary
Fleming grew up on a New South Wales station before briefly attending Sydney University. He began what was to be a lengthy career as a conservative politician by winning a seat in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly at the age of 27. He served in France during WWI, returning to Australia in 1918. From the 1890s Fleming contributed articles, short stories and verse to publications like the Bulletin, the Sydney Morning Herald and the Pastoral Review. He published two novels for adults, Where Eagles Build (1925), and Broad Acres: A Story of Australian Early Life on the Land (1939) as well as two poetry collections. He is best remembered for his children's stories, which drew inspiration from Aboriginal beliefs, including Bunyip Says So: A Tale of the Australian Bush (1922) and The Hunted Piccaninnies (1927).