Australia

Famous Australian People: Australian Artists, Scientists, Leaders, Musicians, Politicians and Athletes

There are some individuals who had the fortunate power to inject their imagination, deep sense of purpose, their ambition and endless curiosity into language and visual form, thereby creating something that men can cherish forever. Fame is the immortality of these great achievers, brilliant inventors, actors, sporting heroes, very talented artists in their work. Australia has produced a remarkable number of Nobel Prize winners for its small population. They are simply remarkable persons who have one thing in common: are not easy to stereotype. These people of purpose made a difference in our world, because they excelled in their field of expertise. We are happy to present to you some brief stories of notable Australian people who inspired the world.

:: List of Famous People from Australia ::

Patrick White

Patrick White was an Australian author who was widely regarded as a major English-language novelist of the second half of the 20th century, the grand old master of Australian literature. From 1935 until his death, he published 12 novels, two short-story collections and eight plays. White’s international breakthrough novel was VOSS, published in 1957.

“The basic theme in Patrick White is mankind’s search for a meaning for, and a value in, existence. The mystery of the human psyche offers him a challenge which has shown itself to be fruitful. Nothing in his works would suggest any doubts that this earthly existence is the only one mankind has been granted, and that we are dependent on our fellows for its perfection. That White is aware of forces beyond apparent reality does not mean that he believes in a life after death. It is in order to make the only existence of his “elect” meaningful that he sends them out on the oaths of suffering.” (Ingmar Björksten in Patrick White: General Introduction, 1976)

An eminently worthy Nobel laureate, “for an epic and psychological narrative art which has introduced a new continent into literature”, Patrick White continues to fascinate the readers with his strong narrative voice and his wrenching tales, careful, solid, but also very daring and captivating style.

Dame Joan Sutherland

One of the world’s greatest opera singers, an Australian dramatic coloratura soprano noted for her contribution in the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire in the late 1950s and 1960s. Sutherland was considered unsurpassed in the bel canto repertory among contemporary singers. She was known for her lovely and powerful voice, excellent range, accurate intonation, a splendid trill and a tremendous upper register and commanding stage presence. Luciano Pavarotti once called Sutherland the “Voice of the Century”, the Italian critics “La Stupenda”, while Montserrat Caballé described the Australian’s voice as being like “heaven”.

Sir (Frank) Macfarlane Burnet

Macfarlane was a brilliant Australian virologist and immunologist best known for his contributions to immunology. Burnet won the Nobel Prize for Medicine or Physiology in 1960 “for discovery of acquired immunological tolerance”.

He was a pioneer in the application of ecological principles to viral diseases and proposed two concepts in immunology-acquired immunological tolerance and the clone selection theory of antibody production, which explains how lymphocytes target antigens for destruction. His research on immune tolerance provided the experimental basis for developing methods of transplanting solid organs.

Ian Thorpe

Former Australian freestyle swimmer, one of the world’s best of all time. Ian captured during his career five Olympic gold medals, the most won by any Australian, and in 2001 he became the first person to win six gold medals in one World Championship, breaking 22 world records. In total, Thorpe has won eleven World Championship gold medals, the second-highest number of any swimmer.

Sir (William) Lawrence Bragg

Was an Australian physicist who shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1915 with his father Sir William Henry Bragg “for their services in the analysis of crystal structure by means of X-rays”. Lawrence Bragg is the discoverer of the law named after him of X-ray diffraction, which is basic for the determination of crystal structure.

Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman is an incredible Australian film producer, actor of film, theatre and television, known mostly for his roles in several major Hollywood films, including Van Helsing and X-Men. He was named People Magazine’s 2008 Sexiest Man Alive. Hugh Jackman was awarded the ‘Outstanding Performance in a Stage Musical’ for his performance in The Boy From Oz, an Emmy for his performance hosting the Tony’s and many others.

Sidney Nolan

Nolan was one of Australia’s most prolific experimental painter, one of the giants of 20th century Australian art. Nolan was a visual myth maker who gained international recognition for the powerful imagery of his work. Some of Nolan’s most famous paintings are: ‘Boy and the Moon’ (1939-40), the iconic Kelly masterpiece ‘First Class Marksman’ (1946), ‘Pretty Polly Mine’ (1948), ‘Burke and Wills leaving Melbourne’ (1950), ‘The Temptation of St Anthony’ (1952) and ‘Rimbaud at Harar’ (1963). The most important of Nolan’s paintings are those based on the story of Australia’s bushranger, Ned Kelly.

James Harrison

Invented the world’s first practical refrigerator, he was a pioneer in all kinds of refrigeration. The first practical refrigerator was built at a Victorian Brewery in the late 1850s and produced 3 tons of ice per day.

Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue is a great Australian musician and actress famous all over the world. In Australia and Europe, Kylie Minogue has become a style icon, as well as the biggest selling female artist. She has been widely acclaimed for her many achievements. Kylie has many hit singles around the globe and has released 10 studio albums but is also well-known for her elaborate music videos and expensive, well-directed stage shows. Maintaining a high profile around the world for over 20 years, she has sold 60 million records.

Lance de Mole

Lance de Mole was a brilliant Australian inventor and engineer. In 1911 he invented a track armored vehicle: the tank. Mole submitted a proposal, to the British War Office, for a ‘chain-rail vehicle which could be easily steered and carry heavy loads over rough ground and trenches’. The British war office developed the tank themselves without paying royalties.