born on 17 January 1877 at Sydenham, Kent in England; migrated to Australia with her
family when she was 4 years old, arriving in Adelaide in 1881. Educated later in Perth,
May Gibbs eventually settled at Neutral Bay, Sydney in New South Wales.
fairly tall, dark hair, a lean artistic face with keen eyes
My name is May Gibbs and I represent ‘Nature’s gifts’ because I am a
successful writer and illustrator of children’s books. My book Snugglepot and
Cuddlepie sold 17,000 copies on its first release in 1918 and is now regarded as an
Australian children’s classic.
1901-2001 Centenary of
Federation