Mitchell, Elyne (1913-2002)

Also known as
Mitchell, Sibyl Elyne (1913-2002)
Field of activity
Cattle Farmer, Champion Skier, Community worker and Writer
Libraries Australia
http://nla.gov.au/anbd.aut-an35356009
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-506725

Biographies

Elyne Mitchell is an Australian writer who is best known for the Silver Brumby series of children's books.

Elyne Mitchell was the daughter of General Sir Harry Chauvel, who commanded the Desert Mounted Corps in World War One. She attended St Catherine's School, Toorak, between 1924 and 1931. In 1935, at the age of 20, Elyne married Tom Mitchell, moving to his cattle station Towong Hill in the Snowy Mountains. Tom Mitchell was a lawyer, and champion skier, and Elyne won the Canadian downhill skiing championship in 1938. While her husband, who was to become State Attorney-General from 1950-52, studied at Harvard, she studied international relations at Radcliffe. During the Second World War, Elyne Mitchell was part of a group of nationalist writers, who wrote poetry and prose centred on the Australian landscape. In this period, she wrote Australia's Alps (Sydney: Angus & Robertson, 1942) and Speak to the Earth (Sydney:  Angus & Robertson, 1945). She is the author of 72 works of poetry, autobiography, and children's and adult fiction. Elyne is best known, however, for the Silver Brumby series of children's books. She wrote the first for her daughter Indi, out of concern about the lack of Australian content in books. Elyne Mitchell worked closely with youth organisations in the Upper Murray community.  In 1990 she received the Order of Australia Medal, for services to children's literature.  In 1993, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Charles Sturt University.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Elyne Mitchell, OAM (born Sibyl Elyne Chauvel on 30 December 1913 Melbourne, Victoria - died 4 March 2002 Corryong, Victoria) was an Australian author noted for the Silver Brumby series of children's novels. Set in the Snowy Mountains area of the Australian Alps around Mount Kosciuszko in southern New South Wales and northern Victoria, the books recount the life of the pale palomino brumby stallion Thowra from his birth in The Silver Brumby (first published 1958) to Silver Brumby Whirlwind. The Silver Brumby was the basis of a film of the same name in 1993 starring Caroline Goodall as Mitchell and Russell Crowe as The Man. This film was also released under the title The Silver Stallion: King of the Wild. There is also a children's cartoon TV series of the same name, which uses some character names, but at best is only a very loose adaptation of the books. Elyne Mitchell's other works of fiction are also set in the Snowy Mountains around Thredbo and the Cascade Hut and are populated by brumbies and other animals, native and feral. The brumby stories generally intersect geographically or thematically with the Silver Brumby books and various characters from the Silver Brumby books may appear in the others. Her novels describe eastern Australian terrain and wildlife in considerable detail. She was part of a wave of nationalist Australian writing in that gathered strength in the late 1930s and 1940s and her work is generally described as having a landscape aesthetic. Although the horses and other animals in her books speak to each other, they are not anthropomorphic and particularly in the first two Silver Brumby books, otherwise behave naturally. Her nonfiction works draw on family history and culture. Elyne Mitchell was the daughter of General Sir Henry George (Harry) Chauvel, who was the commander of the ANZAC Mounted Division Light Horse and Desert Mounted Corps in World War I famous for the charge at Beersheba.

View the full record at Libraries Australia

Related people and organisations

Libraries Australia

  • (see also) Australia. Member of the Order of Australia (AM) 1988.

Resources for Elyne Mitchell

Selected resources (2)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Wodonga Historical Society: 'Women Who Have Achieved'
    Biographical details of women who have contributed to Albury/Wodonga, with names of informants
  2. National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection: Papers of Elyne Mitchell (1920s - 2002)
    Includes correspondence, photographs, article.
    MS 9633 MS Acc07/122, MS Acc07/43, MS Acc08/26, MS Acc08/29, MS Acc08/73.;

Resources by Elyne Mitchell (71)

  1. Towong Hill : fifty years on an upper Murray cattle station / Elyne Mitchell
    Mitchell, Elyne, 1913-2002
    [ Book : 1989-2013 ]
    At 45 libraries
    Towong Hill : fifty years on an upper Murray cattle station / Elyne Mitchell
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 60.767)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 60.767)

  2. Elyne Mitchell : a daughter remembers / Honor Auchinleck
    Auchinleck, Honor, 1953-
    [ Book : 2012-2013 ]
    At 69 libraries
    Elyne Mitchell : a daughter remembers / Honor Auchinleck
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 56.478)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 56.478)

  3. The silver brumby
    Animation Works
    [ Video : 1992-2005 ]
    At 41 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 54.355)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 54.355)

  4. The Silver brumby
    Animation Works
    [ Video, Sound : 1992-1997 ]
    At 37 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 33.213)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 33.213)

  5. On the trail of the silver brumby / [Honor Auchinleck ; photography by James Auchinleck ; illustrations by Annette Macarthur-Onslow and Victor Ambrus]
    Auchinleck, Honor
    [ Book : 2012 ]
    At 53 libraries
    On the trail of the silver brumby / [Honor Auchinleck ; photography by James Auchinleck ; illustrations by Annette Macarthur-Onslow and Victor Ambrus]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 32.783)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 32.783)

  6. Discoverers of the Snowy Mountains / Elyne Mitchell
    Mitchell, Elyne, 1913-2002
    [ Book : 1985 ]
    At 55 libraries
    Discoverers of the Snowy Mountains / Elyne Mitchell
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 32.779)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 32.779)

  7. The man from Snowy River / Elyne Mitchell
    Mitchell, Elyne, 1913-2002
    [ Book, Audio book : 1982-2011 ]
    Possibly online
    At 96 libraries
    The man from Snowy River / Elyne Mitchell
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 31.854)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 31.854)

  8. Australia's Alps / by Elyne Mitchell
    Mitchell, Elyne, 1913-2002
    [ Book : 1942-1962 ]
    At 43 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 30.917)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 30.917)

  9. Silver Brumby's daughter / Elyne Mitchell ; drawings by Grace Huxtable
    Mitchell, Elyne, 1913-2002
    [ Book, Audio book : 1960-2009 ]
    Languages: English, Swedish, Dutch, [2 others]
    At 76 libraries
    Silver Brumby's daughter / Elyne Mitchell ; drawings by Grace Huxtable
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 27.367)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 27.367)

  10. Light horse : the story of Australia's mounted troops / Elyne Mitchell
    Mitchell, Elyne, 1913-
    [ Book, Audio book : 1978-1986 ]
    At 70 libraries
    Light horse : the story of Australia's mounted troops / Elyne Mitchell
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 26.786)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 26.786)

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Resources about Elyne Mitchell (12)

  1. Towong Hill : fifty years on an upper Murray cattle station / Elyne Mitchell
    Mitchell, Elyne, 1913-2002
    [ Book : 1989-2013 ]
    At 45 libraries
    Towong Hill : fifty years on an upper Murray cattle station / Elyne Mitchell
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 59.262)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 59.262)

  2. Elyne Mitchell : a daughter remembers / Honor Auchinleck
    Auchinleck, Honor, 1953-
    [ Book : 2012-2013 ]
    At 69 libraries
    Elyne Mitchell : a daughter remembers / Honor Auchinleck
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 55.184)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 55.184)

  3. The silver brumby
    Animation Works
    [ Video : 1992-2005 ]
    At 41 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 53.803)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 53.803)

  4. The Silver brumby
    Animation Works
    [ Video, Sound : 1992-1997 ]
    At 37 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 32.733)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 32.733)

  5. On the trail of the silver brumby / [Honor Auchinleck ; photography by James Auchinleck ; illustrations by Annette Macarthur-Onslow and Victor Ambrus]
    Auchinleck, Honor
    [ Book : 2012 ]
    At 53 libraries
    On the trail of the silver brumby / [Honor Auchinleck ; photography by James Auchinleck ; illustrations by Annette Macarthur-Onslow and Victor Ambrus]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 32.27)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 32.27)

  6. Papers of Elyne Mitchell
    Mitchell, Elyne, 1913-2002
    [ Unpublished : 1928-2002 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 21.628)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 21.628)

  7. [Biographical cuttings on Elyne Mitchell, 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: 20.493)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 20.493)

  8. Portraits of Elyne Mitchell, Towong Hill, 1994 / Alec Bolton
    Bolton, A. T., 1926-1996
    [ Photograph : 1994 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    Portraits of Elyne Mitchell, Towong Hill, 1994 / Alec Bolton
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 12.715)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 12.715)

  9. Internationally renowned children's authors / [activities by Denise Gourlay and Helen Sykes]
    Gourlay, Denise
    [ Book : 1993 ]
    At 21 libraries
    Internationally renowned children's authors / [activities by Denise Gourlay and Helen Sykes]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.23)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.23)

  10. Elyne Mitchell Silver Brumby Award : best story for children 2005
    Boucaut, Anna
    [ Book : 2005 ]
    At 3 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.118)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.118)

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  1. Elyne Mitchell. -Snowy Mountains explorer-
    Knijiff, Glenn Van Der
    Wild (Prahran, Vic)
    [ Map, Article : 1990 ]
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.256)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.256)

  1. Silver Brumby stories [by Elyne Mitchell]
    Elyne Mitchell 1913-2002
    [ Book : 1993 ]
    Read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.654)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.654)

  2. The silver brumby / Elyne Mitchell
    Mitchell, Elyne
    [ Book : 1958-2003 ]
    Read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 41 libraries
    The silver brumby / Elyne Mitchell
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.647)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.647)

  3. On the trail of the silver brumby
    Mitchell, Elyne
    [ Book : 2012 ]
    At AlburyCity
    On the trail of the silver brumby
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.214)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.214)

  4. Light horse to Damascus, (by) Elyne Mitchell
    Mitchell, Sybil Elyn Keith
    [ Book : 1987 ]
    At RUSI
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.197)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.197)

  1. The silver brumby. Golden goes home
    [ Video : 1997 ]
    At Holroyd City Council
    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: 0.089)

    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: 0.089)

  2. The silver stallion / Australian Film Finance Corporation ; Film Victoria ; Media World ; producers, Colin South, John Tatoulis ; writers, Elyne Mitchell, Jon Stephens, John Tatoulis ; director, John Tatoulis
    Australian Film Finance Corporation
    [ Video : 1992-2004 ]
    At ACU - Melbourne
    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: 0.087)

    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: 0.087)

  3. The man from Snowy River / with introduction by Bud Tingwell
    Mitchell, Elyne
    [ Sound : 1982 ]
    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: 0.072)

    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: 0.072)

  4. Silver Brumby whirlwind
    Mitchell, Elyne
    [ Sound : 2002 ]
    At WhitehorseManning
    Silver Brumby whirlwind
    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: 0.07)

    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: 0.07)

  1. Letter : Corryong, Vic. to Jules [Tardent]
    Mitchell, Elyne, 1913-
    [ Unpublished : 1979 ]
    At UQ Library
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.217)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.217)

  2. Deved Photograph Collection
    Thorne Studio
    [ Unpublished ]
    View online (access conditions)
    Deved Photograph Collection
    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)

  3. Papers of David Campbell
    Campbell, David, 1915-1979
    [ Unpublished : 1890-1980 ]
    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: 0.001)

    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: 0.001)

  1. Portraits of Elyne Mitchell, Towong...
    Bolton, A. T., ...
    [ Photograph : 1994 ]
    Portraits of Elyne Mitchell, Towong Hill, 1994 / Alec Bolton
  2. Correspondence and notes
    Wills-Johnson, ...
    [ Photograph : 1900-1979 ]
  1. Website: Tablelands Regional Council
    www.library.trc.qld.gov.au
    Matching pages:
    View 30 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.03)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.03)

  2. Website: Australian Light Horse Association
    www.lighthorse.org.au
    Matching pages:
    • Re: Elyne Mitchell - 20/5/2009
    • ... Re: Elyne Mitchell Discussion [ Contents | Search | Post | Reply | Next | Previous | Up ] Re...
    View 205 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.025)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.025)

  3. Website: Simply Australia
    simplyaustralia.net
    Matching pages:
    View 12 matching archived pages
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.016)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.016)

  1. MORE-THAN-HUMAN BRUMBIES SILVER BRUMBY WHIRLWIND. By Elyne Mitchell. Hutchinson. 128 pp. $3.15.
    The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) Friday 18 January 1974 p 7 Article
    ... MORE-THAN-HUMAN BRUMBIES SILVER BRUMBY WHIRLWIND. By Elyne Mitchell. Hutchinson. 128 pp. $3.15. ... upon this one with enthusi asm. If he hasn't read any, then don't start him on it. Elyne Mitchcll's ... Elyne Mit chell writes with great sensi tivity about these fine animal, people whom she has in fact ... 449 words
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.168)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.168)

  2. Earth and Home "Speak to the Earth," by Elyne Mitchell.—Angus and Robertson.
    The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Saturday 29 September 1945 p 7 Article
    ... Earth and Home "Speak to the Earth," by Elyne   Mitchell.-.Angus and Robertson. THERE is a ... is it then, the country? Merely a damp place where raw birds scream!" ' ®) "ELYNE MITCHELL might ... and the wife of Captain T. Mitchell, owner of Towong Hill station on the Upper Murray. Captain ... 420 words
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.021)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.021)

  3. HIGH-COUNTRY MEMORIES BRING CHRONICLE TO LIFE CHAUVEL COUNTRY: The Story of a Great Australian Pioneering Family. By Elyne Mitchell, Macmillan. 299pp. $19.95. [coming soon]
    The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) Saturday 28 January 1984 p 18 Article
    ... Pioneering Family. By Elyne Mitchell, Macmillan. 299pp. $19.95. Reviewer: RON WINCH. ELYNE Mitchell's ... personal, taking us from 1935, when Elyne married Tom Mitchell and began a new life at 'Towong ... Elyne Mitchell came to the high country that she grew to love so much. When her husband joined the AIF's ... 654 words
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.879)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.879)

  1. Elyne Mitchell, 1913-2002: matriarch of the high country: a tribute
    Prentice, Jeff
    Viewpoint (Parkville, Vic)
    [ Article : 2002 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.876)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.876)

  2. The woman from Snowy River. -Interview with Elyne Mitchell by Austin, Nigel-
    Mitchell, Elyne
    Bulletin (Sydney)
    [ Article : 1990 ]
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.52)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.52)

  3. Elyne Mitchell. -Snowy Mountains explorer-
    Knijiff, Glenn Van Der
    Wild (Prahran, Vic)
    [ Map, Article : 1990 ]
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.281)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.281)

  4. A writer's tale: a passion for nature and adventure. -An interview with Elyne Mitchell-
    Shuter, Louise
    Reading Time
    [ Article : 1994 ]
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.195)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.195)