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Robert Macklin
Robert Macklin
Robert Macklin
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Robert Victor Macklin (1941 – 16 January 2026) was an Australian author and journalist.

Key Information

Life and career

[edit]

Robert Victor Macklin was born in Brisbane in 1941. He was educated at Ironside Primary School, Brisbane Grammar School and the Australian National University.

He began his writing career for The Courier-Mail in Brisbane, later moving to The Age in Melbourne, The Bulletin in Sydney and the Canberra Times in Canberra. In 1967 he became press secretary to the deputy prime minister, John McEwen, shortly before the death of Harold Holt, after which McEwen briefly became prime minister.

In 1974, while working in the Philippines at the Asian Development Bank, he began writing both fiction and non-fiction books, beginning with the novel The Queenslander. Awarded a Commonwealth Writer's Fellowship, he returned to Australia in 1975 and wrote The Paper Castle (1978) and Juryman (1980), adapted by MGM to the film Storyville (1994) starring James Spader and Jason Robards.

His non-fiction work includes Seven Cities of Australia, Dark Paradise, Norfolk Island: Isolation, Savagery, Murder, 100 Great Australians, The Secret Life of Jesus, Jacka VC: Australian Hero, Fire in the Blood: The epic tale of Frank Gardiner and Australia's other bushrangers, Bravest: How Some of Australia's Greatest War Heroes Won Their Medals, the memoir War Babies, Kevin Rudd: The Biography, My Favourite Teacher, The Great Australian Pie, One False Move, SAS Sniper (with Rob Maylor), Redback One, SAS Insider, Warrior Elite, Hamilton Hume - Our Greatest Explorer and Dragon & Kangaroo.

With Peter Thompson he co-authored The Battle of Brisbane, The Man Who Died Twice: The Life and Adventures of Morrison of China, Kill The Tiger, Keep Off the Skyline and The Big Fella: The Rise and Rise of BHP Billiton.

He was a graduate of the screen writing course of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School and wrote and directed documentary films in 32 countries of Asia and the South Pacific. With producer Andrew Pike he wrote the screenplay Barefoot on Australia’s only Chinese bushranger, Sam Poo.

Married to Wendy Macklin, a well-known Canberra primary school teacher, he had two sons. He divided his time between Canberra and Tuross Head. He died on 16 January 2026 at the age of 84.[1] He had opted for voluntary assisted dying after eight years of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.[2]

Awards

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Macklin's awards included the Blake Dawson Prize for Business Literature (with Peter Thompson) in 2009 and Canberra Critics Circle awards for One False Move, Dark Paradise and Hamilton Hume - Our Greatest Explorer.

Works

[edit]
  • The Queenslander (Corgi, 1978)
  • The Paper Castle (Collins, 1977)
  • Juryman (1982)
  • 100 Great Australians (Currey O'Neil, 1983)
  • The Secret Life of Jesus (Pan Books, 1990)
  • War Babies, A Memoir (Pandanus Books ANU, 2004)
  • Fire in the Blood: The Epic Tale of Frank Gardiner and Australia's Other Bushrangers (2005)
  • Jacka VC: Australian Hero (2006)
  • Kevin Rudd - the biography (2007)
  • Bravest: How Some of Australia's Greatest War Heroes Won Their Medals (2008)
  • SAS Sniper With Rob Maylor (Hachette 2010)
  • Dark Paradise - Norfolk Island - Isolation, Savagery, Mystery and Murder (Hachette, 2013)
  • Redback One (Hachette 2014)
  • SAS Insider (Hachette 2014)
  • Warrior Elite - Z Force to the SAS; Intelligence Operations to Cyber Warfare (Hachette, 2015)
  • Hamilton Hume - Our Greatest Explorer (Hachette 2016)
  • Dragon & Kangaroo: Australia and China's shared history from the goldfields to the present day (2017)
  • Castaway - the extraordinary survival story of Narcisse Pelletier, a young French cabin boy shipwrecked on Cape York in 1858 (Hachette, 2019)
  • The Man Who Planted Canberra: Charles Weston and His Three Million Trees (National Library of Australia, 2025)

With Peter Thompson

  • The Battle of Brisbane (2000)
  • Morrison of China (2005)
  • Kill the Tiger (2002, 2005)
  • Keep off the Skyline (2004)
  • The Big Fella - the rise and rise of BHP Billiton (2009)
  • Operation Rimau (Hachette, 2015)

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Robert Macklin

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
''Robert Macklin'' is an Australian author and journalist known for his extensive contributions to Australian historical non-fiction, including works on exploration, military special forces, Aboriginal affairs, and international relations. He has authored 31 books, with notable titles including ''Castaway'', the story of explorer Narcisse Pelletier; ''Hamilton Hume'', a biography of the Australian explorer; ''Dragon & Kangaroo'', examining Australia-China relations; and several volumes on Australia's SAS such as ''SAS Sniper'', ''Redback One'', ''SAS Insider'', and ''Warrior Elite''. Macklin also served as associate editor of ''The Canberra Times'' and was the authorised biographer of former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Beyond writing, he has produced and directed documentary films across 32 countries in Asia and the South Pacific, and graduated from the Australian Film, Television and Radio School's screenwriting course. His work often explores themes of Australian identity, military history, and social justice, including biographies and accounts related to Aboriginal history and advocacy. Macklin has contributed columns and articles to various publications, including as a columnist and literary editor for Canberra's ''CityNews''.

Early life and education

Birth and childhood

Robert Macklin was born in 1941 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He grew up in suburban Brisbane during the 1940s and 1950s, a period shaped by the aftermath of World War II and its lingering social and emotional impacts on Australian families. His memoir War Babies recounts these formative years, describing the unique uncertainties and insecurities experienced by his generation born in the shadow of the war, along with the everyday life, sporting interests, and social mores of post-war Brisbane. The work presents an affectionate yet candid portrait of childhood in that era, centered on family dynamics and the city's evolving environment.

Education

Robert Macklin attended Ironside Primary School in Brisbane for his early education. He subsequently attended Brisbane Grammar School for his secondary schooling. He attended the Australian National University. Macklin later graduated from the screenwriting course at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS). This training provided a foundation for his later work in film and documentary production.

Journalism career

Early journalism roles

Robert Macklin began his journalism career as a cadet journalist at The Courier-Mail in Brisbane, where he started while undertaking part-time arts studies at the University of Queensland. He later progressed to The Age in Melbourne, and in 1964 the newspaper assigned him to its Canberra bureau. His early work also encompassed contributions to The Bulletin in Sydney. In 1967 he transitioned to a political press secretary position.

Political press secretary position

In 1967, Robert Macklin served as press secretary to Deputy Prime Minister and Country Party leader John McEwen. He assumed the position in late 1967, at a time when McEwen was widely expected to retire after one final year in government. Three weeks after Macklin began his role, Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared while swimming near Portsea, Victoria, on 17 December 1967 and was presumed dead. On 19 December 1967, Governor-General Lord Casey commissioned McEwen as Prime Minister of a caretaker government, a temporary role he held until John Gorton was sworn in on 10 January 1968. During this period of political crisis and transition, Macklin continued as McEwen's press secretary, including accompanying him upon his return from overseas travel. Macklin remained in the position until McEwen's retirement from parliament in January 1971.

International development work

In 1971, after leaving his press secretary role, Robert Macklin moved to the Philippines. He produced and directed documentary films for the Asian Development Bank across 33 countries in Asia and the South Pacific. During his time in the Philippines in the early 1970s, he began writing books, starting with his first novel, marking the beginning of his transition to authorship.

Later journalism career

Macklin joined The Canberra Times in 1990. He served as founding arts editor, restaurant critic, and feature writer, and wrote the long-running Page 3 column "A Capital Life". He was appointed associate editor in May 1999 and was retrenched in 2003 during a cost-saving exercise.

Literary career

Transition to authorship

Macklin's transition from journalism to authorship began during his time at the Asian Development Bank in the Philippines circa 1974, where he started writing books while continuing his international development work. This period marked a shift toward longer-form writing, building on his journalistic experience in truth-seeking and storytelling. His move into book writing reflected a natural evolution from reporting and public affairs roles to exploring narratives in greater depth.

Fiction works

Robert Macklin authored three works of fiction in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His first novel, The Queenslander, was published in 1978 and follows the coming-of-age of a young protagonist in 1950s Brisbane as he transitions from childhood to adolescent self-consciousness and romanticism. That same year saw the release of The Paper Castle, another novel marking his early literary output in fiction. In 1980, Macklin co-authored the novel Juryman with Australian lawyer Frank Galbally. This work was later adapted into the 1992 film Storyville. These titles represent Macklin's contributions to fiction before his shift toward predominantly non-fiction writing.

Non-fiction works

Robert Macklin has established himself as a prolific writer of non-fiction, authoring numerous works that predominantly explore Australian history, military operations, biographies of significant figures, and related themes. His non-fiction output reflects a deep engagement with Australia's past, including military heroism, political leadership, and colonial and international encounters. Among his notable biographies are Jacka VC: Australian Hero, which chronicles the life of World War I Victoria Cross recipient Albert Jacka; Kevin Rudd: The Biography, offering an in-depth portrait of the former Australian Prime Minister; and Hamilton Hume – Our Greatest Explorer, detailing the achievements and legacy of the pioneering explorer. Macklin has also produced broader historical accounts such as Dark Paradise – Norfolk Island, examining the island's complex history of isolation and penal settlement; Dragon & Kangaroo, investigating the parallel rises of Australia and China; and Castaway (2019), recounting the remarkable survival story of shipwrecked French cabin boy Narcisse Pelletier. In the realm of military non-fiction, Macklin has focused extensively on Australia's special forces, authoring titles including SAS Sniper (co-authored with Rob Maylor), Redback One, SAS Insider, Warrior Elite, and Bravest. He has frequently collaborated with Peter Thompson on co-authored works, including The Battle of Brisbane, which examines wartime tensions between Australian and American forces; The Man Who Died Twice – Morrison of China, a biography of Australian adventurer George Ernest Morrison; Kill The Tiger, addressing Operation Rimau; Keep Off the Skyline, detailing Australian experiences in the Korean War; and The Big Fella: The Rise and Rise of BHP Billiton, chronicling the growth of the mining giant.

Film and television contributions

Screenwriting education

Robert Macklin is a graduate of the screenwriting course at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS). This formal training provided him with foundational skills in screenplay development and visual storytelling, which he later applied to his work as a documentary filmmaker.

Documentary filmmaking

Robert Macklin wrote and directed documentary films in 32 countries across Asia and the South Pacific. Some biographical references associate portions of this output with projects for the Asian Development Bank, though exact project information remains limited.

Adapted works and screenplays

Robert Macklin's novel Juryman (1980), co-authored with Frank Galbally, was adapted into the feature film Storyville (1992), directed by Mark Frost and starring James Spader and Jason Robards. The adaptation relocated the story's setting to New Orleans, differing from the original Australian context. Macklin also co-wrote the screenplay Barefoot with producer Andrew Pike. The script centers on the historical figure of Chinese bushranger Sam Poo, though the project's production status remains unknown.

Awards and recognition

Personal life

References

  1. https://robertmacklin.com/
  2. https://johnmenadue.com/authors/robert-macklin/
  3. https://www.abc.net.au/news/robert-macklin/4346436
  4. https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9154551/remembering-robert-macklin-a-storied-literary-legacy/
  5. https://robertmacklin.com/war-babies/
  6. https://www.hachette.com.au/robert-macklin/
  7. https://citynews.com.au/2020/why-towering-mcewen-should-be-honoured/
  8. https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/australias-prime-ministers/john-mcewen/key-people
  9. https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/australias-prime-ministers/john-mcewen/before-office
  10. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1702321071
  11. https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-queenslander_robert-macklin/2858700/
  12. https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2856061
  13. https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/discovery/fulldisplay?vid=61SLQ_INST%3ASLQ&tab=all&docid=alma99341174702061&lang=en&context=L
  14. https://www.dymocks.com.au/authors/robert-macklin
  15. https://robertmacklin.com/kevin-rudd/
  16. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/685446.Robert_Macklin
  17. https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/685446.Robert_Macklin
  18. https://www.amazon.com/Redback-One-true-story-Australian/dp/073363060X
  19. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sas-insider-robert-macklin/1148612960
  20. https://www.amazon.com/Battle-Brisbane-Australia-America-War-ebook/dp/B005YT9LJ8
  21. https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Peter-Thompson-and-Robert-Macklin-Life-and-Adventures-of-Morrison-of-China-9781741753516
  22. https://www.amazon.com/Big-Fella-Rise-BHP-Billiton/dp/1741667100
  23. https://citynews.com.au/2026/author-and-columnist-robert-macklin-has-died/
  24. https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/59403
  25. https://variety.com/1991/film/reviews/storyville-1200429234/
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