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Isobel Marion Dorothea Mackellar was born on 1 July 1885, at her family’s home that stands on Point Piper, overlooking Rose Bay on Sydney Harbour. The third of four children, Dorothea was the only daughter born to renowned physician and Parliamentarian, Sir Charles Kinnaird Mackellar and his wife, Marion (nee Buckland). The young Dorothea received private tutoring in painting, fencing and languages and later attended lectures at Sydney University (although she never formally enrolled as a student). She spoke French, German, Italian and Spanish fluently. When the family travelled overseas, Dorothea acted as an interpreter for her father.
Dorothea had a lively personality with a keen sense of humour, which is reflected in her diary entries of the early 1900s. Hers was a privileged life that was divided between the busy sophistication of the city and the simplicity of the country.
The Mackellar family owned several properties in the Gunnedah NSW area, including “Kurrumbede” and “The Rampadells” on the Blue Vale Road near Gunnedah. The late Mrs Maude Broun lived on the adjoining property, “Coulston”, with her husband, the son of Sir Charles Broun. In a taped interview after Dorothea’s death, Mrs Broun recalled the Mackellar’s regular visits with Dorothea, Eric and Malcolm (her older brother, Keith was killed in the Boer War at age 19), to their Gunnedah country residences.
Sir Charles handed these properties over to his sons whom many still remember as well respected and generous members of the local community. Over the years Dorothea often visited the area, staying with her brothers and maintaining her skills as an ardent horsewoman. Dorothea was very proud of the fact that she could ride side-saddle so well, even in the bush.
The first draft of what was to become Australia’s most quoted and best loved poem, “My Country”, was written in England at a time when Dorothea was feeling homesick. Never quite content with the verses, she wrote and re-wrote the poem several times after returning to Australia and living in the apartments above her father’s consulting rooms in Buckland Chambers, Liverpool Street, Sydney, opposite the ANZAC Memorial. It is fitting that Dorothea’s Memorial should now grace ANZAC Park in Gunnedah, depicting her as the young woman who wrote “My Country”, and gazing in the direction of her beloved “Kurrumbede”.
Dorothea never married, although at age 28 while living in London, she fell in love with an English poet named Patrick Chalmers. When she returned to Australia just before the start of World War I, she wrote to Patrick to let him know her parents approved of their decision to wed. Unfortunately, the letter was lost and Patrick married someone else. Dorothea was heartbroken, her poetry after this experience becoming more serious with sometimes tragic undertones. (“Sorrow”)
Dorothea continued to write and travel during the 1920s and early 1930s, her work appeared in journals of high repute such as the London “Spectator”, American “Harper’s Magazine” and the Sydney “Bulletin”. During these years, four volumes of verse were published, “The Closed Door”, “The Witchmaid”, “Dreamharbour” and “Fancy Dress”.
The Australian countryside continued to be a source of inspiration to Dorothea. Two poems that particularly reflect her special relationship with the Gunnedah district are; “Dawn” (At the dawning of the day; On the road to Gunnedah...), and “Burning Off” (They’re burning off at the Rampadells; The tawny flames uprise...).
Later in life Dorothea suffered increasing ill health and ceased writing. In the 1968 New Year Honours list, her contribution to Australian literature was formally recognised and she was made an Officer of the British Empire. Sadly, only two weeks later on 14 January, Dorothea Mackellar died in her sleep in the Scottish Hospital, Paddington.The funeral service was held in St Mark’s Church at Darling Point where reportedly Dorothea’s favourite poem, “Colour” was read. She was once recorded saying about the poem, “You know, I think that was as close as I ever came to writing poetry.” She was laid to rest in the family vault at Waverley Cemetery in Sydney.
Dorothea’s brothers had already passed away leaving no heirs. Dorothea, therefore, was the last of that branch of the Mackellars.
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