Patricia Clarke

Mary Patricia Clarke (30 July 1926 – 9 March 2026) was an Australian writer, historian and journalist who wrote about 19th century women in Australia.

Early life and education Clarke was born in Alphington, Melbourne on 30 July 1926, to John L. Ryan, a teacher, and Annie T. Ryan (nee McSweeney). She was educated in Melbourne until the family moved to Sale where she went to secondary school and then at the University of Melbourne.

Career Clarke worked as a journalist at the Australian News and Information Bureau in Melbourne and Canberra, for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in the Press Gallery, Parliament House, Canberra, as journalist and editor for Maxwell Newton Publications and as Editor of Publications for the National Capital Development Commission. She has published numerous books about women in Australian history, with a particular interest in female journalists. fellow of the Federation of the Australian Historical Societies and awardee of a Medal of the Order of Australia for contributions to literature on Australian history.

Death Clarke died in Canberra on 9 March 2026, at the age of 99.

Awards 1993 Harold White Fellow, National Library of Australia 1995 Joint winner, Society of Women Writers non-fiction award 2001 Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)