After attending The Geelong College, Andrew Rutherford entered the University of Melbourne, graduating in 1989 with a BA (Hons) in English and Philosophy. He has since worked as a film and literary reviewer and a teacher at the University of Melbourne. Between 1990 and 1994, he was associated with the literary magazine, Scripsi, as managing editor and editor. He later worked as columnist for the Republican and as a freelance editor (1998-2001). In 2002 he began a degree in computer science.