Biographical entry Macdonald, Donald Alaster (1859 - 1932)

Summary

Donald Alaster Macdonald wrote for the "Argus" and the "Australasian" as a cricket commentator, war correspondent during the Boer War and nature writer. In 1911 he wrote the "Bush Boy's Book"; this was enlarged in four more editions between 1927 and 1933.

Details

Probably born 6 June 1859. Died 23 November 1932. Became a pupil-teacher in 1876, then joined the "Corowa Free Press", and in 1881 the Melbourne "Argus". Cricket commentator, war correspondent during Boer War, and nature writer for the "Argus" and the "Australasian". A selection of his nature writings was published as "Gum Boughs and Wattle Bloom" (1887). In 1900 he established a weekly column in the "Argus" called "Nature Notes and Queries". It was extended to "Notes for Boys" in 1909 and led to the "Bush Boy's Book" in 1911, enlarged in 4 more editions in 1927-33. Other writings included "At the End of the Moonpath" (1922), a nature book for children. A fountain memorial, designed by Stanley Hammond, is in Macdonald Park, Beaumaris.

Published resources

Book Sections

• Anderson, Hugh, 'Macdonald, Donald Alaster (1859-1932)', in Bede Nairn and Geoffrey Serle (eds), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 10, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1986, p. 249. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A100240b.htm. Details

Online Resources

• National Library of Australia, 'Macdonald, Donald Alaster', Trove, National Library of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1470958. Details