Print Edition

Eighteen volumes of the Australian Dictionary of Biography, including a supplementary volume of ‘missing persons’ have, so far, been published. The volumes contain over 11,500 scholarly biographies, with entries ranging from Dutch explorer Dirk Hartog (1580-1621) through to people who died in 1990. An index to volumes 1-12 was published in 1991. The Supplementary volume contains an index of all subjects in volumes 1-16. 

Volume 1 of the ADB was published in 1966; volume 17 in 2007. It is anticipated that volume 18, which will complete the period 1981-1990, will be published in 2012.

The ADB is published by Melbourne University Press.

Spin-off publications

Chris Coulthard-Clark (ed), The Diggers: Makers of the Australian Military Tradition: Lives from the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Melbourne University Press, 1993

Michael McKernan (ed), The Makers of Australia's Sporting Traditions: Lives from the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Melbourne University Press, 1993

Gregory P. Gilbert (ed), Australian Naval Personalities: Lives from the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Sea Power Centre Australia, 2006

Peter Hendy (ed), Captains of Industry: Biographies of the Presidents of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Melbourne University Press, 2008