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Peter FitzSimons

"Peter FitzSimons could arguably be regarded as the everyman and woman's historian."

Peter FitzSimons is Australia's bestselling non-fiction writer known for his biographies, and for the past 30 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun-Herald.

He is the author of a number of highly successful books, including Burke and Wills, Monash's Masterpiece, Kokoda, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson, Nancy Wake and Nick Farr-Jones. His passion is to tell Australian stories, our own stories: of great men and women, of stirring events in our history.

Meet Peter FitzSimons

Peter was born in Sydney in 1961. He grew up on a farm north of Sydney, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University for an arts degree.

Long before he was known as a celebrated biographer, FitzSimons was a celebrated rugby player. He started with the Sydney University Football Club before moving across to Manly RUFC. He eventually went on to play for the Wallabies in 1989 and 1990.

During his rugby years, FitzSimons was also writing as a sports columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald. So when he started writing books, it would make sense that he would start with sports biographies and histories. He soon moved on to other historical figures, war heroes, and a dazzling array of fascinating characters from Australia’s past.

He and his wife Lisa Wilkinson - journalist, magazine editor and television presenter - have three children. Peter’s kids gave him his red bandana that is known for always wearing, which earned him the nickname ‘Pirate Pete’.

FitzSimons has also been honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to literature and sports journalism, and for his contributions to his community.