Remembering Charmian Clift: Blue plaque unveiled to commemorate literary icon

Australian writer and essayist, Charmian Clift, (1923–69) has been honoured recently with the unveiling of a blue plaque in her hometown of Kiama. Located at Kiama Library, the blue plaque was proudly unveiled by Sarah Kaine and the Kiama Historical Society in celebration of Charmian’s profound contributions to literature and culture.

Born in 1923 in Kiama, Charmian developed a passion for writing from an early age, penning several poems – including one when she was eight years old about her hometown’s famous blowhole.

Moving to Sydney in 1941, Charmian enlisted in the Australian Women’s Army Service in 1943 and was given her first job in journalism, editing the army magazine For Your Information.

After World War II, Charmian worked for Melbourne’s Argus newspaper, where she fell in love with George Johnston, a famous war correspondent who was married. The couple embarked on a very public love affair and when Charmian was dismissed from the Argus over the scandal, George resigned in protest.

In 1954, following a four-year stint in London, Charmian and George moved to Greece to write full-time. The picturesque landscapes of Kalymnos and Hydra inspired Clift’s literary creations. Notable among her works are Mermaid Singing (1956) and Peel Me a Lotus (1959), both autobiographical in nature, detailing her life in Greece.

In 1960, Charmian published her first solo novel, Walk to the Paradise Gardens, inspired by the landscape of her hometown Kiama. Over the next four years, she worked on her romantic novel, Honour’s Mimic (1964), and began an autobiographical novel about her childhood in Kiama, The End of the Morning, which after 60 years, has just been published this month.

Returning to Australia with her family in 1964, Charmian wrote a regular newspaper column that was published in the Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne’s Herald. Attracting a large and devoted readership, Charmian’s ‘sneaky little revolutions’ as she once called them, reflected on Australian society and explored topical issues.

Charmian’s impact extends beyond her individual works, celebrated today as a woman ahead of her time, with her reflections on the human experience still resonating today. The blue plaque serves as a permanent tribute to her remarkable talent and enduring influence.

Blue Plaques NSW shares the fascinating stories of people and events that have shaped our state. The full story of Charmian Clift and over 30 other subjects can be found on the Blue Plaques NSW website.