Bruce, Minnie (1878-1958)

Field of activity
Author and Journalist
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-619787

Biographies

The author of the Billabong series of books, Mary Grant Bruce began writing poetry and short stories at the age of seven. Later she became editor of her school magazine. After completing her matriculation Bruce moved to Melbourne where she worked as an editor and wrote weekly stories for the Leader children’s page. Her first book A Little Bush Maid, originally a serial, was published in 1910. Between 1910 and 1942 she published 37 children’s novels. During her career Bruce was a contributor to Blackwood's Magazine, Morning Post, Daily Mail, Windsor Magazine, Cassell's Magazine, Strand, Argus, Age, Herald (Melbourne), Australasian, Leader, Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney Mail, Lone Hand Auckland Weekly Press, Woman's World, West Australian and the British Australasian. During World War II Bruce worked for the AIF Women's Association, sold her autograph at charity auctions for the war effort and broadcast a series of talks for the Department of Information.

  • April 1895 Won first prize in the Melbourne Shakespeare Society's annual essay competition
  • December 1895 Passed the matriculation examination with honours in English, history and botany
  • 1898 Her story Her Little Lad was published in the Christmas supplement of the Melbourne Leader under the signature 'M.G.H.'
  • December 1900 Her story Dono's Christmas' published in supplement of the Melbourne Leader under the pseudonym 'Coolibah'
  • 1910 Little Bush Maid published
  • 1912 Mates at Billabong published
  • 1912 Timothy in Bushland published
  • 1913 Glen Eyre published
  • 1913 Norah of Billabong published
  • 1913 - 1914 Went to London where she wrote articles for the Daily Mail and met her future husband, distant cousin, Major George Evans Bruce
  • 1914 Grays Hollow published
  • 1914 From Billabong to London published
  • 1 July 1914 Returned to Australia and married at Holy Trinity Church, East Melbourne
  • 4 August 1914 After the outbreak of World War I sailed on the troop-ship Nestor to Cork and during the next three years 'produced two babies and four books'
  • 1915 Jim and Wally published
  • 1916 Captain Jim published
  • 1917 Dick published
  • 1917 Possum published
  • 1918 Dick Lester of Kurrajong published
  • 11 November 1918 Following the war, returned to Australia to settle at Traralgon, Gippsland
  • 1919 Back to Billabong published
  • 1920 The Tower Rooms published
  • 1921 The Houses of the Eagle published
  • 1922 Stone Axe of Burkamuka published
  • 1922 Robin published
  • 1922 Cousin from Town published
  • 1923 Hugh Stanford's Luck published
  • 1923 Twins of Emu Plains published
  • 1924 Billabong's Daughter published
  • 1924 Anderson's Jo published
  • 1925 House of the Eagle published
  • 1926 Golden Fiddles published
  • 1926 Acting editor of Woman's World for six months
  • 1926 Tower Rooms published
  • 1927 Moved to Omagh, Ireland
  • 1928 Billabong Adventurers published
  • 1929 The Happy Traveller published
  • 1931 Road to Adventure published
  • 1933 Bill of Billabong published
  • 1934 Seahawk published
  • 1935 Wings Above Billabong published
  • 1936 Circus Ring published
  • 1937 Billabong Gold published
  • 1938 Told by Peter published
  • 1939 Son of Billabong published
  • 1939 Returned to Australia
  • 1940 Peter and Co. published
  • 1941 Karalta published
  • 1942 Billabong Riders published
  • 1948 Following death of her husband (1946) Bruce went back to England

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Resources for Minnie Bruce

Selected resources (9)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Bruce, Minnie (Mary) Grant (1878-1958)Australian Dictionary of Biography Online 07 : Bruce, Minnie (Mary) Grant (1878-1958)
    Strahan, Lynne
    [2006]
    Published: Australian National University
    Series: http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070459b.htm
  2. The Women's Pages: Australian Women and Journalism since 1850
    Australian Women's Archives Project
    [2008]
    Published: Australian Women's Archives Project
    Series: http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/cal/cal-home.html
  3. Who's who in Australia 1950
    Alexander, Joseph A
    [1950]
    Published: The Herald
  4. National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection: Manuscripts 1924-1925 (1924 - 1925)
    Manuscript drafts of "Hugh Stanford's Luck" (Sydney, Cornstalk, 1925) and "Robin" (London, Ward Lock, 1926).
    MS 3470
  5. State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection: Bruce, Mary Grant, 1878-1958 Papers
    The papers of Mary Grant Bruce include personal and family documents; newspaper cuttings relating to her career; correspondence, mainly with publishers; manuscripts and typescripts of literary works; photographs and other items. The papers of George Evans Bruce include correspondence with publishers and family members; manuscripts and typescripts of literary works; miscellaneous items.
    MS 9975
  6. National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection: Page from an autograph book signed by Mary Grant Bruce (1943)
    MS 1930
  7. State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection: Bruce, Mary Grant, 1878-1958 Autobiographical notes
    Comprises illustrated autobiographical notes of Mary Grant Bruce and Ernestine Hill
    MS 11261
  8. State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection: Bruce, Mary Grant, 1878-1958 Letters (7 April 1927 - 10 December 1929)
    Letter from Mary Grant Bruce to "Marie" , 10 December, 1929, concerning the death of her son, Pat Bruce; two letters from Pat Bruce to "Marie", 7 April, 1927 and 21 January, 1928
    MS 11668
  9. State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection: Records of Ward, Lock and Co. (1928 - 1954)
    Correspondence, 1939-1954, between Mary Grant Bruce and Ward Lock and Co.; also, correspondence, 1928-1954, between Ethel Turner and Ward Lock and Co. Correspondence contains details of royalities and sales for some years, problems associated with printing during World War II, and personal insights; also, some miscellaneous correspondence.
    BOX 3719/2-3

Resources by Minnie Bruce (50)

  1. A little bush maid / by Mary Grant Bruce
    Bruce, Mary Grant, 1878-1958
    [ Book, Audio book : 1900-2005 ]
    Languages: English, Undetermined
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 77 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 17.272)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 17.272)

  2. The peculiar honeymoon and other writings / by Mary Grant Bruce ; edited by Prue McKay
    Bruce, Mary Grant, 1878-1958
    [ Book : 1986 ]
    At 55 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.694)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.694)

  3. Billabong's daughter / Mary Grant Bruce
    Bruce, Mary Grant, 1878-1958
    [ Book : 1924-2005 ]
    At 52 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.154)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.154)

  4. Billabong riders / by Mary Grant Bruce
    Bruce, Mary Grant, 1878-1958
    [ Book : 1942-2005 ]
    At 52 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.124)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.124)

  5. Mates at Billabong / Mary Grant Bruce
    Bruce, Mary Grant, 1878-1958
    [ Book : 1900-2003 ]
    At 56 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.084)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.084)

  6. Circus ring / by Mary Grant Bruce
    Bruce, Mary Grant, 1878-1958
    [ Book : 1900-1984 ]
    At 26 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.461)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.461)

  7. Back to Billabong / Mary Grant Bruce
    Bruce, Mary Grant, 1878-1958
    [ Book : 1921-2007 ]
    At 52 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.445)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.445)

  8. Robin / by Mary Grant Bruce
    Bruce, Mary Grant, 1878-1958
    [ Book, Audio book : 1926-1948 ]
    Languages: English, Undetermined
    At 23 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.437)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.437)

  9. Jim and Wally / by Mary Grant Bruce
    Bruce, Mary Grant, 1878-1958
    [ Book : 1915-1992 ]
    At 46 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.433)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.433)

  10. Wings above Billabong / by Mary Grant Bruce
    Bruce, Mary Grant, 1878-1958
    [ Book : 1900-2003 ]
    At 51 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.433)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.433)

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    William Gilbert Bruce 1809-1885 and descendants

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    Articles mentioning my grandmother, Kathleen Louisa Bruce (née Loukes)

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  1. Bruce, Mary Grant (1878-1958)
    ... BRUCE, MINNIE (MARY) GRANT (1878-1958), journalist and writer of children's books ...
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.492)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.492)

  2. Bruce, Minnie (1878-1958)
    ... The author of the Billabong series of books, Mary Grant Bruce began writing poetry and short ...
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.108)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.108)

  1. Website: Australian Women in War
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 31 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.092)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.092)

  2. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 27 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.084)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.084)

  3. Website: Putting skirts on the sacred benches : women candidates for the New South Wales Parliament
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 4 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.037)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.037)

  1. Poets live the questions. (Jewelle Gomez and Minnie Bruce Pratt) (Interview)
    OUT-LOOK
    [ Article : 1992 ]
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.124)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.124)

  2. Minnie Bruce Pratt: the poet vs. the profiteers.(Interview)
    Parks, Joy
    Herizons
    [ Article : 2012 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.124)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.124)

  3. Belles Lettres Interview. (interview with Minnie Bruce Pratt, poet, essayist and teacher) (Interview)
    Auerbach, Elaine
    Belles Lettres: A Review of Books by Women
    [ Article : 1992 ]
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.114)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.114)

  4. Hats Off to Minnie: America Honors Minnie Pearl. (variety special) (Television) (Brief Article)
    Fretts, Bruce
    Entertainment Weekly
    [ Article : 1992 ]
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.105)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.105)

Pictures, photos, objects

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Minimise
  1. Re-Imagining the Red States: New Directions for Southern Studies
    McPherson, Tara (Creator) (Speaker)
    [ Map, Video ]
    Languages: eng English
    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: 0.023)

    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: 0.023)

  1. Dick Lester of Kurrajong / by Mary Grant Bruce
    Bruce, Mary Grant, 1878-1958
    [ Book : 1920 ]
    At 20 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.796)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.796)

  2. A little bush maid ; Mates at Billabong / Mary Grant Bruce
    Bruce, Mary Grant, 1878-1958
    [ Book : 1981 ]
    At 11 libraries
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.504)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.504)

  3. S/He / Minnie Bruce Pratt
    Pratt, Minnie Bruce
    [ Book : 1995-2005 ]
    At 6 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.49)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.49)

  4. Rebellion : essays, 1980-1991 / Minnie Bruce Pratt
    Pratt, Minnie Bruce
    [ Book : 1991 ]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 4 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.483)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.483)

  1. No Place
    Pratt, Minnie Bruce (Creator) (Speaker) (Author)
    [ Video ]
    Languages: eng English
    View online
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.101)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.101)

  2. Minnie and the super guys / Jane Godwin
    Godwin, Jane, 1964-
    [ Audio book, Book : 2004-2005 ]
    At 45 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: 0.084)

    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: 0.084)

  3. Three tales / Gustave Flaubert ; translated with an introduction by Robert Baldick
    Flaubert, Gustave, 1821-1880
    [ Book, Audio book, Article : 1877-2009 ]
    Languages: English, French, Polish, Greek, Modern (1453- )
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 47 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: 0.046)

    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: 0.046)

  4. The winter sparrows : growing up in Scotland & Australia / Mary Rose Liverani
    Liverani, Mary Rose
    [ Book, Audio book : 1975-1982 ]
    At 65 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: 0.044)

    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: 0.044)

  1. [Biographical cuttings on Minnie Bruce, writer, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]
    [ Published : 1900-1990 ]
    At National Library
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.28)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.28)

  2. The light that failed / by Rudyard Kipling
    Kipling, Rudyard, 1865-1936
    [ Book, Audio book, Published : 1890-2011 ]
    Languages: English, German, French, Maltese
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 37 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: 0.013)

    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: 0.013)

  3. Cooley, Andrew Wood Photograph Collection
    Cooley Family
    [ Unpublished : 1850 ]
    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: 0.008)

    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)

  1. TALUNGA RACES.
    South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) Saturday 18 February 1888 p 7 Article
    ... Tichborne. Lady May, Blue Belle, Mick, Minnie, Silver Bide, Dolly Vardon. Shoets.- ? Wild Irishman, Bruce, Sir Ewen, Crniaer, Rocket, Joker, Bruce, Lucy Glitters, Silvertail, Mvra, Telegram, Lady Floes, ... Teoens, Lottie, Wild Irishman, Telegram, Bruce, War Cry, Evylin, Sir Ewen. Talukga Handicap.- Locum ... 114 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.008)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.008)

  2. GLENELG: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27. [Before Messrs. H. D. Gell and W. Hooper.]
    South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) Thursday 28 January 1892 p 7 Article
    ... GLENELG: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27. [Before Before Messrs. H. D. Gell and W. Hooper.] Nellie Bruce, alias Minnie Thornton, was charged, on the information of Catherine Burke, with stealing some silver bangles and some clothing. The defendant was employed by the prosecutor as a cook, and the articles ... 61 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.007)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.007)

  3. TINY TRICKLE WINNERS.
    Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954) Thursday 27 August 1936 Supplement: The Western Mail p 14 Article
    ... TINY TRICKLE WINNERS. Claude Goudge, Betty White,, Joyce Tucker, Betty Cole, Joy Eatt (2). Minnie Stewart (2), Edith Sutton (2), Blood (2), N. Tarco. Gwen Lawrence (2), Mary Cunnane (2), Rose- vear ... Spouse, Bertha Roberts, Bruce Ashton, Margaret Miller, Lesley Ashton, Evelyn Summerfield (2), Edna ... 65 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.007)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.007)