Eumundi Voice Issue 112, 6 March 2025

On this day

A House of Legend

Fifty years ago, Hilary McPhee and Diana Gribble founded the first independent publishing house in Australia owned by women – McPhee Gribble Publishers. They were in their 30s and idealistic. With a loan of $3,000 from Di’s father, they purchased a white Olivetti golf ball typewriter, two white chairs, a bottle of whisky and set up office.

Initially, McPhee Gribble co-published children’s books – Practical Puffins – with Penguin Australia. These books became internationally successful at a time when Australian children’s books were relatively unknown.

Then one day, Glen Tomasetti turned up at their office on her bicycle with a novel – something they had not published. Tomasetti insisted they read her manuscript called Thoroughly Decent People. It was published to acclaim in 1976. The following year another cyclist arrived at their office. This time it was Helen Garner, with a manuscript called Monkey Grip. McPhee Gribble published it, and it is still in print to this day. McPhee and Gribble then moved to new premises with enough space to cater for their respective children and a childminder, while they worked upstairs. In 1979 McPhee Gribble published Puberty Blues by Kathy Lette and Gabrielle Carey. Subsequently, they went on to publish Tim Winton in 1988 after his publisher Allen and Unwin turned him down. In 1989 McPhee Gribble was bought out by Penguin. The two women went on to illustrious careers in the arts and media. They remain amongst the most influential women in the Australian publishing scene and are notable for encouraging Australian writers.