Dorothy Wall, author, illustrator and creator of the much-loved children’s book, Blinky Bill, was born on 12 January 1894 in Wellington, New Zealand, and first migrated to Australia in 1914. She died on 21 January 1942 at her home in Cremorne and was buried in the Northern Suburbs Cemetery.

• Her entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography states that, at one time, she was a resident in the Blue Mountains at Warrimoo. (I wonder if her homes are still standing and whether either has a plaque?)

In 1985, Australia Post issued a commemorative stamp honouring the character Blinky Bill.

The text of Blinky Bill and its sequels are now out of copyright and are available for free download as ebooks from Project Gutenberg Australia:

• Blinky Bill
• Blinky Bill and Nutsy
• Blinky Bill Grows Up and
• The Complete Adventures of Blinky Bill (a zip file, including illustrations)

I remember having Blinky Bill read to me as a child but, I confess, I can’t remember much of the story. (Mary Grant Bruce’s novels, which I read for myself, made a greater impression.)

Have you read any of Wall’s work. What did you think?