Meredith, Gwen (1907-2006)

Also known as
Meredith, Gwenyth (1907-2006)
Meredith, Gwenyth Valmai (1907-2006)
Field of activity
Playwright and Author
Libraries Australia
http://nla.gov.au/anbd.aut-an35347371
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-505453

Biographies

Gwen Meredith was the writer of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio serial Blue Hills. On 10 June 1967 she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to radio entertainment and on the 11 June 1977 an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to the Arts.

Daughter of George and Florence Meredith, Gwen completed her secondary education at Sydney Girls High School and her tertiary education at the University of Sydney, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts. From 1932 - 1939 she was the owner of the Chelsea Bookshop (which led to the development of the Chelsea Drama Club) before working as a freelance writer for four years.

In 1943 Gwen Meredith commenced a 33-year relationship with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, contracted to write radio plays, serials and documentaries. For five years she wrote for radio serial The Lawsons, highlighting the problems of rural Australia in wartime. Her next serial, Blue Hills, depicted rural life in the wheat belt, the high country and the red centre, and ran for 5795 episodes over 27 years: 'During the high noon of radio's golden era', claims Richard Begbie in the Canberra Times, 'it was estimated that nearly half the Australian radio sets operating on 1pm weekdays were tuned to Blue Hills.'

Gwen Meredith married engineer Ainsworth Harrison on 24 December 1938. She enjoyed gardening and painting, as well as bush-walking and fly-fishing with her husband. Her publications include: Wives Have Their Uses (1944); Great Inheritance (1946); The Lawsons (1948); Blue Hills (1950); Beyond Blue Hills (1953), Inns and Outs (with husband Ainsworth Harrison) (1955) and Into the Sun.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Resources for Gwen Meredith

Selected resources (16)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Into the sun : a Blue Hills novel
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-
    [1961]
    Published: Angus & Robertson
  2. Inns and outs
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907- and Harrison, Ainsworth
    [1955]
    Published: Angus & Robertson
  3. Beyond blue hills : the Ternna-Boolla story
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-
    [1953]
    Published: Angus and Robertson
  4. Blue Hills
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-
    [1950]
    Published: Angus and Robertson
  5. The Lawsons
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-
    [1948]
    Published: Angus & Robertson
  6. Great inheritance
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-
    [1945]
    Published: R.A.A.F. Educational Services
  7. Wives have their uses : a comedy in three acts
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-
    [1944]
    Published: Mulga Publications
  8. [Conversation with Gwen Meredith] / [interviewer : Hazel de Berg]
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-
    [1975]
  9. Faith, Hope and Charity Australian Women and Imperial Honours: 1901-1989
    Australian Women's Archives Project
    [2003]
    Published: Australian Women's Archives Project
    Series: http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/honours/honours.html
  10. Upstaged : Australian women dramatists in the limelight at last
    Arrow, Michelle
    [2002]
    Published: Currency Press
  11. The golden age of Australian radio drama 1923-1960 : a history through biography
    Lane, Richard
    [1994]
    Published: Melbourne University Press
  12. Australian women writers : a bibliographic guide
    Adelaide, Debra
    [1988]
    Published: Pandora Press
  13. Monash Biographical Dictionary of 20th Century Australia
    Arnold, John and Morris, Deirdre
    [1994]
    Published: Reed Reference Publishing
  14. Who's who in Australia 2002
    Herd, Margaret
    [2002]
    Published: Crown Content
  15. National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection: Meredith, Gwen Papers [manuscript] (1938 - 1987)
    Correspondence, personal documents, contracts, cutting books, photographs, radio scripts, and manuscripts of plays, novels and short stories. The correspondence includes letter written by Gwen Meredith to her family on her overseas trips in 1953, 1969 and 1973, letters relating to her research for 'Blue Hills', and papers documenting her long association with the Australian Broadcasting Commission. Correspondents include Ainsworth Harrison, John Blewitt, Gladys Blewitt, Beatrice Davis, W. Cousins, John Douglass, Charles Goldsmith, Sir Charles Moses, Frank Zeppel, James Pratt, F. D. Clewlow and Leslie Rees. There are incomplete sets of scripts of The Lawsons' and Blue Hills'.
    MS 6789
  16. National Library of Australia Newspaper Microcopy Reading Room: [Biographical cuttings on Gwen Meredith, author]

Resources by Gwen Meredith (25)

  1. Papers of Gwen Meredith
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-2006
    [ Unpublished : 1938-1987 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 22.847)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 22.847)

  2. Gwen Meredith interviewed by Hazel de Berg in the Hazel de Berg collection
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-2006
    [ Sound : 1975 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 15.81)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 15.81)

  3. Blue hills / by Gwen Meredith
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-2006
    [ Book : 1950-1961 ]
    At 22 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 15.037)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 15.037)

  4. The Lawsons / by Gwen Meredith
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-2006
    [ Book : 1948-1963 ]
    At 25 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.875)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.875)

  5. Beyond Blue Hills : the Ternna-Boolla story / by Gwen Meredith
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-2006
    [ Book : 1953-1955 ]
    At 22 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 13.051)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 13.051)

  6. Wives have their uses : a comedy in three acts / by Gwen Meredith
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-2006
    [ Book : 1944 ]
    At 19 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 12.843)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 12.843)

  7. Into the sun : a Blue Hills novel / by Gwen Meredith
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-2006
    [ Book, Audio book : 1961 ]
    At 20 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.107)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.107)

  8. Blue Hills revisited / by Gwen Meredith
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-2006
    [ Audio book : 1988 ]
    At 18 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 10.262)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 10.262)

  9. Inns and outs / by Gwen Meredith and Ainsworth Harrison
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-2006
    [ Book : 1955 ]
    At 13 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.381)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.381)

  10. Blue Hills in the sun : a Blue Hills novel / by Gwen Meredith
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-2006
    [ Book : 1975 ]
    At 8 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.231)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.231)

More...

Resources about Gwen Meredith (7)

  1. Papers of Gwen Meredith
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-2006
    [ Unpublished : 1938-1987 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 22.528)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 22.528)

  2. [Biographical cuttings on Gwen Meredith, author, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]
    [ Published : 1900-1990 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 19.904)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 19.904)

  3. Gwen Meredith interviewed by Hazel de Berg in the Hazel de Berg collection
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-2006
    [ Sound : 1975 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 15.917)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 15.917)

  4. Blue hills
    [ Video : 2006 ]
    At UQ Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.988)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.988)

  5. John Bluett's truck and the Harrison's house being built, Brindabella
    [ Photograph : 1911-1960 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.411)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.411)

  6. Stage set for the J.C. Williamson production of The Lawsons, the back garden of Wongalee / Hal Williamson
    Williamson, Hal
    [ Photograph : 1950-1959 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.407)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.407)

  7. Mary Bartholomew as Jean Lawson, Pamela Bygrave as Sue Lawson (seated), Jean Blue as Ellen Lawson, Peter Morris as Brian Lawson, , George Simpson-Lyttle as John Lawson, Dorothea Dunstan as Emmie (seated on arm of chair), Billee Lockwood as Hilda (sea...
    Williamson, Hal
    [ Photograph : 1950-1959 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.408)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.408)

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  1. Meredith, Gwen (1907-2006)
    ... Gwen Meredith was the writer of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio serial Blue ...
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.681)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.681)

  1. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 24 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.065)

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    www.womenaustralia.info
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  3. Website: Matilda
    www.middlemiss.org
    Matching pages:
    • Gwen Meredith - Matilda - 9/2/2010
    • ... By Perry Middlemiss on October 5, 2006 8:45 AM Author Gwen Meredith has died at her home...
    View 9 matching archived pages
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.019)

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  1. Making a nation white: representations of assimilation in Gwen Meredith's Beyond Blue Hills: The Ternna-Boolla Story (1953)
    Elder, Catriona
    Australian Studies (London, England)
    [ Article : 2001 ]
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.079)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.079)

  2. 'Good entertainment and good family life': listener readings and responses to Gwen Meredith's The Lawsons and Blue Hills [Paper in: Everyday Wonders, Nile, Richard (ed.).]
    Arrow, Michelle
    Journal of Australian Studies
    [ Article : 1998 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.074)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.074)

  3. Gwen Meredith; Obituary.(Features)
    The Times (London, England)
    [ Article : 2006 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.072)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.072)

  4. Australian playwright Gwen Meredith dies
    Bulletin Wire
    [ Article : 2006 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.069)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.069)

  1. people "I haven't made my decision lightly": GWEN MEREDITH SAYS GOODBYE TO 'BLUE HILLS'
    The Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982) Wednesday 19 May 1976 p 9 Article Illustrated
    ... Gwen Meredith - after 33 years, just 35 episodes to write. people ? TV Gwen with her husband, Ainsworth. I Colour pictures by Kevin Brown haven't made my decision lightly" GWEN MEREDITH SAYS GOODBYE ... others had never existed? "They nearly didn't." said Gwen Meredith, who created them (or perhaps ... 1415 words
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.949)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.949)

  2. "STARS OF THE AIR." GWEN MEREDITH AND HER SERIAL
    Kilmore Free Press (Kilmore, Vic. : 1870 - 1954) Thursday 24 May 1945 p 6 Article Illustrated
    ... "STARS OF THE AIR." GWEN MEREDITH AND HER SERIAL' "THE LAWSONS" LAWSONS," broadcast from Monday, ... luncheon party in honour of the author, Gwen Meredith. From the piles of mail that arrive each day from ... in the A.B.C.'s Productions Department "squabble" among them THE SERIAL'S CLEVER AUTHOR Gwen ... 572 words
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.948)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.948)

  3. "STARS OF THE AIR." GWEN MEREDITH AND HER SERIAL
    Wodonga and Towong Sentinel (Vic. : 1885 - 1954) Friday 25 May 1945 p 1 Article Illustrated
    ... "STARS OF THE AIR.' GWEN MEREDITH AND HER SERIAL THE LAWSONS." broadcast from Monday to Friday ... so much that they. recently arranged a luncheon party in honour of the author, Gwen Meredith. From ... Meredith, tell ing her what they thought shotuld happen and tow she 'could bring ithis about more ... 572 words
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.945)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.945)

  1. The Lawsons / by Gwen Meredith
    Meredith, Gwen
    [ Book : 1925-1948 ]
    At 7 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.335)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.335)

  2. Blue hills / Gwen Meredith
    Meredith, Gwen
    [ Book : 1950-1956 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.284)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.284)

  3. Return to Blue Hills / by Gwen Meredith
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-
    [ Audio book : 2004 ]
    At Cairns Libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.19)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.19)

  4. Great inheritance / by Gwen Meredith
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-
    [ Book : 1945 ]
    At National Library
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.173)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.173)

  1. John Bluett's truck and the Harriso...
    [ Photograph : 1911-1960 ]
  2. Stage set for the J.C. Williamson p...
    Williamson, Hal
    [ Photograph : 1950-1959 ]
  3. Mary Bartholomew as Jean Lawson, Pa...
    Williamson, Hal
    [ Photograph : 1950-1959 ]
  4. Australian personalities, 1970-1997...
    Luck, Peter, 19...
    [ Photograph : 1970-1997 ]

Maps

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  1. Papers of Meredith Stokes
    Stokes, Meredith, 1940-
    [ Unpublished : 1970-1997 ]
    At National Library
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.102)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.102)

  2. Papers of Dorothy Green
    Green, Dorothy, 1915-1991
    [ Unpublished : 1943-1990 ]
    At National Library
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.008)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.008)

  3. Ethnic Archives Oral Histories, Multimedia Archives
    American West Center
    [ Unpublished : 1966 ]
    View online (access conditions)
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.002)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.002)

  1. Return to Blue Hills / by Gwen Meredith
    Meredith, Gwen, 1907-
    [ Audio book : 2004 ]
    At Cairns Libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.19)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.19)

  2. Mrs Gwen Nichols plays accordion and sings [Recorded by John Meredith and Jamie Carlin]
    Nichols, Gwen
    [ Sound : 1986 ]
    At National Library
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.123)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.123)

  3. A little princess / Frances Hodgson Burnett
    Burnett, Frances Hodgson, 1849-1924
    [ Book, Audio book, Sound : 1900-2009 ]
    Languages: English, Chinese, Arabic, [8 others]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 97 libraries
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.064)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.064)

  4. Every one I know loves you; I've listened to the spoony talk of lovers thought it foolish silly most absurd [first line]; Dearie ev'ry ray of sunshine seems to radiate for you [first line of chorus]
    Denni, Lucien [composer]; Meredith, Gwen [lyricist]
    [ Sheet music : 1915 ]
    View online
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.055)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.055)