image of person or book cover 2439550609112266298.jpg
Image courtesy of the State Library of Queensland
George Essex Evans George Essex Evans i(A8920 works by) (a.k.a. G. Essex Evans; Geo. Essex Evans; G. E. Evans)
Also writes as: Christophus ; Anglo-Australian ; Coolabah ; Drayton ; Kurrajong ; Essex Evans
Born: Established: 18 Jun 1863 London,
c
England,
c
c
United Kingdom (UK),
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Western Europe, Europe,
; Died: Ceased: 10 Nov 1909 Toowoomba, Toowoomba area, Darling Downs, Queensland,
Gender: Male
Arrived in Australia: 1881
Heritage: English
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BiographyHistory

George Essex Evans was born on 'Waterloo day' in London and migrated to Australia in 1881. He worked as a farmer, teacher and journalist before joining the public service in 1888. He eventually became district registrar at Toowoomba, Queensland.

While in the public service Evans contributed poetry, criticism and articles to a number of periodicals in Australia and England. He edited several short-lived periodicals and, between 1902 and 1905, he wrote a regular column for two Toowoomba newspapers. Evans' writing has been most admired in Queensland, especially in Toowoomba where a monument to his memory was erected.

Evans published his first volume of poetry, Repentance of Magdalene Despar, in 1891. He attracted wide attention when his Federation poem "Ode for Commonwealth Day" won a £50 prize, but the poem was severely criticised by A. G. Stephens. His best-known poem is the frequently anthologised "The Women of the West". His patriotic poem "An Australian Symphony" is also widely admired. Evans published three volumes of poetry during his lifetime and a collected volume was published posthumously in 1928. He died in 1909, following an operation for gallstones.

Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • 1n 1910 Essex Evans' widow received a pension of £1 per week from the Commonwealth Literary Fund. (http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10835687 )

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon Ode for Commonwealth Day Ode for Commonwealth Day 1st January, 1901; Union i "Awake! Awake! The wings of dawn", Sydney : 1901 Z393927 1900 single work poetry
winner Ode for Commonwealth Day
Last amended 10 Nov 2016 08:52:11
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