Sydney Jephcott

Poetry career He published his first poem in the 1888 Christmas edition of The Bulletin magazine and continued to publish his poetry until near his death in 1951.

Although not prolific — only two collections of his work were published in his lifetime — his work appeared in several important and influential Australian poetry anthologies, including An Anthology of Australian Verse (1907), Freedom on the Wallaby : Poems of the Australian People (1953), Bards in the Wilderness : Australian Colonial Poetry to 1920 (1970) and From the Ballads to Brennan (1964). Jephcott was described by literary critic Nettie Palmer as "...a remarkable man, full of humour and vision, as well as being a fine poet and literary influence."

Sydney Jephcott was read by Alfred Deakin, Australia's 2nd Prime Minister. Both Deakin and Jephcott exchanged written correspondence and the letters are available to be read at Australian National Library Canberra.Item 4/729-31. From Alfred Deakin to Sydney Jephcott, Item 4/728. From Sydney Jephcott to Alfred Deakin (Subseries 4.8.1)

Poetry collections The Secrets of the South : Australian Poems (1892) Penetralia (1912)