About Marry Grant Bruce
After leaving school Mary worked for The Age newspaper. She also wrote for The Leader, including the searialized story of A Little Bush Maid, which told the tale of Norah Linton – a young motherless child growing up with her father and brother on "Billabong", an Australian cattle station. In 1910 this story was published in book form, winning the hearts of young people all over Australia, and throughout much of the British Empire as well. It remains her best-selling work.
From 1910 through to 1942 she wrote a total of 37 children's novels, including the 15 Billabong books, which followed the fortunes of the Linton family, and their friends through war, drought and adventure upon adventure. The Billabong series had an enormous impact on how early - and - mid 20th century Australians perceived their relationship with "The Bush" as rural Autralia was, and is still, called.