Annette Rosemary Macarthur-Onslow (31 March 1933 – 25 April 2026) was an Australian author and book illustrator. She was best known for her 1969 book, Uhu, which won the CBCA Book of the Year in 1970.[1]
Annette Macarthur-Onslow | |
|---|---|
 Macarthur-Onslow in 1954 | |
| Born | Annette Rosemary Macarthur-Onslow 31 March 1933 Australia |
| Died | 25 April 2026 (aged 93) Camden, New South Wales, Australia |
| Education | East Sydney Technical College |
| Occupations |
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| Known for | Uhu (1969) |
| Notable work |
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| Awards |
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Early life and education
editBorn on 31 March 1933, Macarthur-Onslow was the eldest daughter of Winifred Owen and Edward Macarthur-Onslow. She completed her secondary education at Frensham School, Mittagong, later attended by her siblings, Pamela (Harrison, 1936–2012) and Phoebe (Atkinson, 1939–2018).[2] She then studied art at East Sydney Technical College.[3]
Career
editMacarthur-Onslow worked for a time in Sydney as a commercial artist. She also assisted Norman Hetherington with his puppets at department stores and, in 1957, live on ABC television.[4][5] She left for London by sea in January 1958, planning to study puppetry there and in Europe.[6] She continued her art studies while working for publishers, including Oxford University Press (OUP).[3]
In the early 1960s Macarthur-Onslow began illustrating children's books for Australian and British authors. Gwen Hutchings wrote of her work in Sheena Porter's Nordy Bank that "the fine line drawings by Annette Macarthur-Onslow at times show exquisite detail, while others are shadowy and impressionistic".[7] The book won the 1965 Carnegie Medal,[8] while Hesba Brimsmead's Pastures of the Blue Crane which she illustrated for OUP won that year's CBCA Book of the Year.[8] Uhu, which she wrote and illustrated, won the CBCA Book of the Year in 1970.[1] It is the story of a small tawny owl in the Gloucestershire countryside.[1]
Macarthur-Onslow was the first author/illustrator to represent Australia at the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava in 1971, where she was awarded a Diplome d'Honneur for Uhu and Minnie.[3]
Death
editMacarthur-Onslow died in Camden on 25 April 2026, at the age of 93.[9]
Selected publications
editAs author/illustrator
edit- Uhu, Ure Smith, 1969
- Minnie, Ure Smith, 1971
- Round House, Collins, 1975
- The Giant Bamboo Happening, John Ferguson, 1982
As illustrator
edit- Animal Stories by Ruth Manning-Sanders, OUP, 1961
- Half a World Away by Nan Chauncy, OUP, 1962
- Pastures of the Blue Crane by Hesba Brinsmead, OUP, 1964
- Winged Skis by Elyne Mitchell, Hutchinson, 1964
- Victoria: the story of a great queen by Elisabeth Kyle, Thomas Nelson, 1964
- Nordy Bank by Sheena Porter, OUP, 1965
- Silver Brumbies of the South by Elyne Mitchell, Hutchinson, 1965
- Silver Brumby Kingdom by Elyne Mitchell, Hutchinson, 1966
- Birds: Poems by Judith Wright, Angus and Robertson, 1967
- Trim by Matthew Flinders, Collins, 1977
- The Man from Snowy River by Banjo Paterson, Nelson, 1986
References
edit- 1 2 3 "Judges' awards". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ↑ Wrigley, John (18 January 2018). "Phoebe Macarthur-Onslow, Sydney model, socialite, 'wild child' and aviatrix". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- 1 2 3 "Annette Macarthur-Onslow". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ↑ Packer, R. C. (12 December 1956). "Television Parade". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 24. Australia. p. 10. Retrieved 15 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ ABN Channel 2: Wednesday 25 December 1957: 4:00PM: "KINDERGARTEN PLAYTIME — Jan McKay introduces the Meryla Puppets with Norm. Hetherington and Annette MacArthur-Onslow", Sydney Morning Herald TV Guide, (Monday, 23 December 1957), p.4.
- ↑ "Worth Reporting". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 25, no. 24. Australia. 20 November 1957. p. 34. Retrieved 15 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ Hutchings, Gwen (8 May 1965). "FOR YOUNG READERS Bringing up a badger". The Canberra Times. Vol. 39, no. 11, 150. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. p. 8. Retrieved 15 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- 1 2 "Advertising". The Canberra Times. Vol. 39, no. 11, 200. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 6 July 1965. p. 12. Retrieved 15 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Annette Macarthur-Onslow Obituary". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.