In 1908 Dorothy Routley moved to Queensland when her parents settled in Hannaford, located on the Darling Downs. With only a basic school education, Routley trained as a nurse and went on to work in rural areas of Queensland such as Mitchell and Dalby. Following her marriage to Colin Routley in 1929, the couple settled in Tipton where they established the sheep farming property, 'Belvedere'. During the Second World War, Routley was an active member of the Australian Comforts Fund (ACF), worked with the Red Cross and later became president of the local branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA).
Writing poetry after retiring in 1960, Routley published two selected works as well as a book of poems intended for children. She has also written songs which include the titles, 'God Defend Australia' and 'Hills of Toowoomba'.
(Source: Toowoomba Chronicle 13 March 1993)
