Lowitja: The Authorised Biography of Lowitja O'Donoghue
Australian History Indigenous Studies Biography Cultural Studies Political History Women's Studies Social Justice
Lowitja: The Authorised Biography of Lowitja O’Donoghue (Allen & Unwin, 2021, hardcover, 320 pp., ISBN 9781760875602) is the first full-scale life story of one of Australia’s most revered Aboriginal leaders. Written by veteran journalist Stuart Rintoul with exclusive access to family papers, government archives and hours of fresh interviews, this authorised biography traces O’Donoghue’s journey from the Stolen Generations to the nation’s most influential boardrooms. Readers see how a shy girl born in 1932 in a remote Aboriginal camp became the first Aboriginal nurse in South Australia, co-founded the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement, helped draft the 1967 referendum campaign, chaired the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, and advised five prime ministers. The result is a richly textured cultural history that doubles as a master-class in Indigenous diplomacy and survival.
What makes this hardcover edition especially desirable is its sheer scarcity: Allen & Unwin’s first printing sold out quickly and quality copies now trade on the secondary market for collectors of Australian history, Indigenous studies and women’s biography. At 9.2 x 6 inches and nearly 24 oz., the book is printed on heavy stock that showcases more than 60 archival photographs—many never published before—of O’Donoghue with Gough Whitlam, Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela and other global figures. The sewn binding remains tight and square, ensuring the book will stand up to repeated reference in libraries, classrooms or private collections.
For students of cultural studies, government policy or Aboriginal history, Lowitja offers primary-source insights into landmark events: the 1967 referendum, the Tent Embassy, land-rights battles, the Royal Commission into Black Deaths in Custody and the reconciliation movement. Rintoul balances meticulous footnotes with a compelling narrative voice, making complex policy debates accessible while never losing sight of the personal cost of activism. Feminist scholars will value its unflinching look at how an Aboriginal woman navigated race and gender barriers inside patriarchal institutions. General readers simply seeking an inspiring Australian life story will find a page-turner that celebrates resilience, humour and grace under pressure.
This particular copy is graded “very good”: crisp, unmarked pages, no inscriptions, no dog-eared corners, and a rock-solid binding—ideal for gifting or shelf pride. With ongoing national conversations about the Voice to Parliament and truth-telling processes, Lowitja has become essential background reading, ensuring strong resale and research demand. Secure this authorised, first-edition hardcover now to own both a powerful Australian story and a collectible piece of living history.
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
Buy Now