Herb Wharton
Herbert Morsley Wharton | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1936 Cunnamulla, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, poet, ex-stockman |
| Known for | Poetry and narrative-style novels |
| Awards | Australia Council Award for Lifetime Achievement in Literature (2012), Queensland Greats Awards (2013), Member of the Order of Australia (2020) |
Herbert Morsley Wharton AM (b. 1936) is an Indigenous Australian ex-stockman who transitioned into a literary career, gaining international acclaim for his poetry and narrative-style novels published from his fifties onward.
Biography
Wharton identifies as a Murri individual, descending from Kooma lineage through his maternal grandmother and possessing Irish roots from both paternal grandfathers. His birthplace is Cunnamulla, Queensland, where he was born in 1936.
Throughout his career, Wharton has earned notable accolades, such as the 2012 Australia Council Award for Lifetime Achievement in Literature, which includes a $50,000 reward recognizing distinguished authors with exceptional contributions to Australian letters. In 2013, he was honored as one of the recipients of the Queensland Greats Awards. Further recognition came in the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours when he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his "significant service to the literary arts, to poetry, and to the Indigenous community."
The Fryer Library preserves the Herb Wharton manuscript archive, containing drafts of his literary works and poetry, letters, journals, speeches, interviews, and various notes.
Works
Novels
- Unbranded (UQP, 1992)
- Yumba Days (UQP, 1999)
Short stories
- Cattle Camp: Murri Drovers and their Stories (UQP, 1994)
- Where Ya Been Mate? (1996)
Poetry
- Kings With Empty Pockets (2003) Review
- Imba (Listen): Tell You a Story (2003)