Australian Dictionary of Biography

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website contains names, images, and voices of deceased persons.

In addition, some articles contain terms or views that were acceptable within mainstream Australian culture in the period in which they were written, but may no longer be considered appropriate.

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Older articles are being reviewed with a view to bringing them into line with contemporary values but the original text will remain available for historical context.

The Australian Dictionary of Biography is Australia's pre-eminent dictionary of national biography. In it you will find concise, informative and fascinating descriptions of the lives of significant and representative persons in Australian history.

See what distinguished Australians are saying about the ADB.

The ADB is produced by the National Centre of Biography at the Australian National University.


* *Proposed ADB entries for people who died 1991-2000* *

Feature Article

Sir William Alfred Brand (1888–1979)

Sir William Alfred Brand

Sir William Alfred Brand (1888-1979), cane-grower and politician, was born on 22 August 1888 at Childers, Queensland, son of William Brand, a farmer from England, and his native-born wife Isabella, née Cocking. Having attended Apple Tree Creek State School, Alfred farmed the family cane-holdings at Huxley. On 22 May 1913 at Childers he married Myrtle Maud Kingston with Methodist forms.

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What’s New

1996 Entries

Browse through the list of articles for people who died in 1996

28 August 2021

Biographical Dictionary of the House of Representatives

Biographical Dictionary of the House of Representatives project: Lives of the Men and Women of the House
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29 March 2021

ADB volume 19

ADB volume 19 published
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17 December 2020

Biography Footnotes

Biography Footnotes, no. 21
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Born This Day

Thomas O'Sullivan (1856–1953)

Thomas O'Sullivan (1856-1953), politician and judge, was born on 13 December 1856 at Ipswich, Queensland, son of Irish parents Patrick O'Sullivan, storekeeper and politician, and his wife Mary, née Real....

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