Sylvia Lawson

Sylvia Lawson (12 November 1932 – 6 November 2017) was a journalist, academic and author, known for her support for cinema in Australia through her work with the Sydney Film Festival from its inception in 1954. She wrote The Archibald Paradox, a study of The Bulletin and its founder, J. F. Archibald.

Early life and education Lawson was a great-granddaughter of journalist and publisher, Louisa Lawson. Born in Summer Hill on 12 November 1932, she was the eldest of six daughters. She grew up in semi-rural Ingleburn. After attending Homebush Intermediate School, she completed her secondary education at Fort Street Girls’ High School. Lawson then studied arts at the University of Sydney. While at university she began her lifelong involvement in film, joining the Sydney University Film Group.

Career On graduation, Lawson was accepted as a cadet journalist by The Sydney Morning Herald, but was frustrated that women were forced to work only on women’s issues. In 1955 Lawson married and had to leave that job. She found employment at the Daily Mirror, but that paper similarly frustrated her ambitions. In 1958 Lawson began to contribute to Tom Fitzgerald's fortnightly publication, Nation as film critic and writing on cinema generally.

In 2000 Lawson was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Australian Academy of the Humanities.