Alice McKinnon was born at 'Oakleigh' on the Lower Wallambah River, New South Wales. Her first published story appeared in the Wingham Advocate in 1891, and other stories and poetry were later published in the Manning River Times, the Bulletin, the Sydney Mail and Australian Town and Country Journal. (Her first paid contribution was a poem in the Bulletin.) McKinnon regularly published under pen names; these include 'Megereon', 'Carini', A. K. M.', 'A. McK.', 'Hyacinth', 'Wild Rose', and 'Lalla'.
McKinnon made several efforts in the late 1890s to publish a book of her work. These efforts, and those of her brothers on her behalf, came to nothing as the expense of publication was considered too great.
Source: A. G. Stephens (ed.) Australian Autobiographies, vol.2.
