- Born
- 24 January 1870
Balby, Yorkshire, England - Died
- 8 April 1958
Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
Summary
Turner was born at Yorkshire, England, her father dying soon after. In 1878 Turner moved to Sydney with her mother and two sisters. She attended Sydney Girls' High School, where she edited the school newspaper. After completing her studies Turner founded a monthly magazine, the Parthenon, which she co-edited with her sister. She became editor of a 'Children's Page' for the Illustrated Sydney News, and later, for the Australian Town and Country Journal. Between 1893 and 1915 she published numerous short stories in The Bulletin, The Australian Town and Country Journal, and The Lone Hand. In 1894 the London firm Ward, Lock & Bowdon published her first children's book, Seven Little Australians, which sold out within a few weeks. Turner went on to write many other novels and works of young adult and children's fiction, but Seven Little Australians remains her best-remembered work.