Alf Dean was born in Irymple, Victoria, one of a family of seven boys and one girl. His father ran a citrus and grape business, and Alf followed in this business. His passion, however, was game fishing, with a particular focus on great white sharks. He was notable in the region for world-record sharks caught on a hook and line during the 1950s.
He was the subject of a biography by Colin Thiele.
