AO (Officer of the Order of Australia)

1. Jacki Weaver

Actress | Silver Linings Playbook

Jacqueline Ruth Weaver is an Australian theatre, film and television actress. She is known internationally for her performances in Animal Kingdom (2010) and Silver Linings Playbook (2012), both of which earned her nominations for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Weaver emerged in the ...

2. Olivia Newton-John

Soundtrack | Grease

Olivia Newton-John was an English singer and actress who was born on September 26, 1948, in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK. In 1954, her family relocated to Australia when her father was offered a job as the dean of a Presbyterian college in Melbourne. After winning a singing talent contest...

3. Leo McKern

Actor | Ladyhawke

Although he sounded very British, Leo McKern was an Australian. By the time he was 15 years old, he had endured an accident that left him without his left eye. A glass eye replaced it - one might conjecture for the better, as far as making McKern a one-day actor of singular focus (no pun intended; ...

4. Michael Blakemore

Actor | Country Life

Michael Blakemore was born on June 19, 1928 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He was an actor and director, known for Country Life (1994), Great Performances (1971) and Having a Wild Weekend (1965). He was married to Tanya McCallin and Shirley Bush. He died on December 10, 2023.

5. Robyn Nevin

Actress | The Matrix Revolutions

Robyn Nevin entered the National Institute Of Dramatic Art (training ground of Mel Gibson, among others) at age 16 in the very first intake in 1959. She went through what she called 'a little temperamental huff' with the theatre following graduation and took a job with the national broadcaster in ...

6. Alison Thompson

Director | High Times Potluck

Alison was born and raised a preacher's daughter in the Australian bush. She is a former Mathematics school teacher and medic. In 1990 Alison moved to New York City and became an Investment Banker on Wall Street, later enrolling at NYU film school studying film making. On Sept 11th, 2001 Alison ...

7. John McCallum

Producer | Nickel Queen

John McCallum was born on March 14, 1918 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He was a producer and actor, known for Nickel Queen (1971), Bailey's Bird (1977) and A Boy, a Girl and a Bike (1949). He was married to Googie Withers. He died on February 3, 2010 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

8. David Williamson

Writer | Gallipoli

David Williamson was born on February 24, 1942 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He is a writer and producer, known for Gallipoli (1981), Face to Face (2011) and Travelling North (1987). He is married to Kristin Williamson.

9. Googie Withers

Actress | One of Our Aircraft Is Missing

Googie Withers began her acting career at the age of 12. She was dancing in the chorus in a West End revue when she was spotted by a Warner Brothers casting director. She went to do a screen test for them at the Riverside Studios and was invited to become an extra. On her first day at the filming of...

10. Joan Carden

Soundtrack | The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Joan Carden was born on October 9, 1937 in Richmond, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. She was previously married to William Noel Coyne.

11. Mel Gibson

Actor | Braveheart

Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson was born January 3, 1956 in Peekskill, New York, USA, as the sixth of eleven children of Hutton Gibson, a railroad brakeman, and Anne Patricia (Reilly) Gibson (who died in December of 1990). His mother was Irish, from County Longford, while his American-born father is ...

12. Barry Humphries

Actor | The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

His father was a well-to-do builder. Barry was a highly intelligent boy who attended Melbourne University. There, he began acting in revues and doing impersonations. He moved to London in 1959 and began his professional performing career on the West End and Broadway stages as Mr Sowerby in Oliver!,...

13. Slim Dusty

Soundtrack | The Slim Dusty Movie

Slim Dusty was born on June 13, 1927 in Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia. He was an actor, known for The Slim Dusty Movie (1984), Wolf Creek 2 (2013) and Dirty Deeds (2002). He was married to Joy McKean. He died on September 19, 2003 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

14. Thomas Keneally

Writer | Schindler's List

Thomas Keneally, (born October 7, 1935, Sydney, Australia), Australian writer best known for his historical novels. Keneally's characters are gripped by their historical and personal past, and decent individuals are portrayed at odds with systems of authority.

At age 17 Keneally entered a Roman ...

15. John Farnham

Soundtrack | Fletch

John Farnham is regarded as Australia's top performing artist, with a career spanning three decades. Born in Essex, England, John immigrated to Australia in 1959 at the age of 10. Since his debut in 1967 he has had numerous successes as a solo performer. His solo album Whispering Jack (1986) ...

16. Ita Buttrose

Actress | The Bold and the Beautiful

One of Australia's leading media personalities, Ita Buttrose was the founding editor of Cleo magazine. She was also editor of The Australian Women's Weekly, Editor in Chief of the Sydney Daily Telegraph & Sydney Sunday Telegraph and the Sun-Herald in Sydney and editor and founder of ITA Magazine. ...

17. Gwen Plumb

Actress | The Young Doctors

Born in the inner-west Sydney suburb of Stanmore and raised in the eastern beach suburb of Coogee, Gwen Plumb did not plan on taking up acting as a career. A chance invitation from a member of the David Jones tailoring department, where she was working at the time, led to her accepting a role in a ...

18. Peter Hollingworth

Self | Landline

Peter Hollingworth was born on April 10, 1935 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. He has been married to Kathleen Ann Turner since February 6, 1960. They have three children.

19. Phillip Adams

Producer | Jack and Jill: A Postscript

Phillip Adams was born in 1939 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He is a producer and writer, known for Jack and Jill: A Postscript (1970), Don's Party (1976) and Lonely Hearts (1982).

20. Patsy Adam Smith

Anzacs

Patsy Adam Smith is known for Anzacs (1985), Australia (1987) and Destination Australia: The Migrant Experience Since 1788 (1984).

21. Stephanie Alexander

Self | MasterChef Australia

Pictured on one of a set of five 60¢ Australian commemorative postage stamps celebrating Cooking Celebrities, issued 17 January 2014. Others honored in this set were Margaret Fulton, Maggie Beer, Neil Perry, and Kylie Kwong.

22. Bob Cotton

Director | Zeiteye

Bob Cotton is known for Zeiteye (2010), Never Mind the Buzzcocks (1996) and Love Me Tender: A Tribute to the Music of Elvis Presley (1987).

23. Margaret Court

Self | Smashing Lady

Margaret Court is a retired Australian tennis player and former world No. 1. She amassed more major titles than any other player in history and is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

In 1970, Court became the first woman during the Open era (and the second woman in history ...

24. Eva Cox

Self | Difference of Opinion

She was awarded the AO (Officer of the Order of Australia) in the 1995 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to women's welfare.

25. Peter Cox

Self | Treasure Hunt

He was awarded the AO (Officer of the Order of Australia) in the 1988 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to New South Wales Parliament.

26. Russ Crane

Actor | The Runaway

Russ Crane is known for The Runaway (2016).

27. Hector Crawford

Producer | Fortress

Hector Crawford was born on August 14, 1913 in Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He was a producer and director, known for Fortress (1985), Cop Shop (1977) and Homicide (1964). He was married to Glenda Raymond and Edna Marie Stock. He died on March 11, 1991 in Kew, Victoria, Australia.

28. Michael Alpers

Self | Kuru: The Science and the Sorcery

Michael Alpers is known for Kuru: The Science and the Sorcery (2010), Equinox (1986) and The Genius and the Boys (2009).

29. Neil Armfield

Director | Candy

Neil Armfield was born on April 22, 1955 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He is a director and writer, known for Candy (2006), Holding the Man (2015) and Edens Lost (1988).

30. Jean Battersby

Writer | The Critics

Jean Battersby was born on March 28, 1928 in Drouin, Victoria, Australia. She was a writer, known for The Critics (1959), Movie Guide (1958) and What's On (1959). She was married to Charles Battersby. She died on February 24, 2009 in Avalon, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

31. Michael Baume

Self | Would You Believe?

32. Jack Beale

Actor | Tick Tock Trick

Jack Beale is known for Tick Tock Trick (2014), Silent Witness (1996) and Law & Order: UK (2009).

33. Charlie Bell

Self | Evolution of the Australian Crawl

34. Julian Burnside

Actor | Homicide

Julian Burnside is known for Homicide (1964), Australian Epic (2023) and State of the Arts.

35. Don Burrows

Music_department | Fluteman

Don Burrows was born on August 8, 1928 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He was a composer and actor, known for Fluteman (1982), Two Thousand Weeks (1969) and Death of a Soldier (1986). He died on March 12, 2020 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

36. Clyde Cameron

Actor | Bloody Trail

Clyde Cameron is known for Bloody Trail (1972).

37. Peter Carey

Writer | Bliss

Peter Carey was born on May 7, 1943 in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia. He is a writer, known for Bliss (1985), Until the End of the World (1991) and Dead End Drive-In (1986).

38. Kate Carnell

Self | The Drum

Kate Carnell was born on May 30, 1955 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

39. Judy Cassab

Self | A Club with Three Members

Judy Cassab was born on August 15, 1920 in Vienna, Austria. She was married to Jancsi Kampfner. She died on November 3, 2015 in Randwick, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

40. Stuart Challender

Soundtrack | Candy

Stuart Challender was born on February 19, 1947 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Stuart is known for Candy (2006) and Monash 66 (1966). Stuart died on December 13, 1991 in Sydney, Australia.

41. Robert de Castella

Self | The Daryl Somers Show

Winner of the 1983 Australian of the Year award.

42. Anne Deveson

Writer | Do I Have to Kill My Child?

Anne Deveson was born on June 19, 1930 in Kuala Lumpur, British Malaya [now Malaysia]. She was a writer and producer, known for Do I Have to Kill My Child? (1976), Spinning Out (1991) and Achieving (1979). She was married to Ellis Manning Blain. She died on December 12, 2016 in Sydney, New South ...

43. Geraldine Doogue

Self | The National

Geraldine Doogue is known for The National (1985), Easter in Jerusalem (2015) and The Einstein Factor (2004).

44. Geoffrey Dutton

Writer | Emma: Queen of the South Seas

Geoffrey Dutton was born on August 2, 1922 in Anlaby, Kapunda, South Australia, Australia. He was a writer, known for Emma: Queen of the South Seas (1988), Man and a Mural (1965) and Experience Australia: The Best Kept Secret in the World (1985). He died on September 17, 1998 in Canberra, Australia.

45. Rod Eddington

Self | Bloomberg Game Changers

46. Graeme Bell

Actor | Death Run

Graeme Bell was born on September 7, 1914 in Richmond, Victoria, Australia. He was an actor, known for Death Run (1990), A Waltz Through the Hills (1988) and The Graeme Bell Show (1958). He was married to Dorothy Gough, Elizabeth Watson and Margot Bliss. He died on June 13, 2012 in Sydney, New ...

47. Rob Borbidge

Self | The 7.30 Report

Rob Borbidge was born on August 12, 1954 in Ararat, Victoria, Australia. He has been married to Jennifer since May 5, 1984. They have two children.

48. Allan Border

Actor | Love Birds

In a nutshell, Allan Robert Border epitomized the "never say die" Australian cricketing spirit better than anyone known to the game. Inducted into the national team during the 1978 home Ashes series at the height of the fiasco surrounding World Series Cricket, Border set his credentials in the ...

49. Henry Bosch

Actor | Prettig geregeld

Henry Bosch is known for Prettig geregeld (1988).

50. Peter Boxall

Self | Becoming Santa

51. Jack Brabham

Transportation_department | Grand Prix

Three-time Formula 1 World Champion Jack Brabham had a long and fruitful career in racing. The Australian native won numerous titles in his home country before taking on the world. After Brabham entered the prestigious Formula 1 series, he raced for the Cooper Car Co., who provided him with his ...

52. Mike Brady

Soundtrack | Breakaway

Mike Brady is known for Breakaway (1990), The Club (1980) and Solo One (1976).

53. Gordon Briscoe

Self | Damned Whores and Evil Bitches

Gordon Briscoe is known for Damned Whores and Evil Bitches (1988), Ningla A-Na (1972) and Kulka: The Life and Times of Gordon Briscoe (2010).

54. Brenton Broadstock

Composer | In the Shadows

Brenton Broadstock is known for In the Shadows (2005), Lunch Date (2014) and Walking with the Mursi (2016).

55. Deborah Cheetham

Composer | Eumeralla

Deborah Cheetham is known for Eumeralla (2020), Initiation OA_RR (2021) and ABBA: Bang a Boomerang (2013).

56. Michael Chugg

Producer | Gimme Ted: A Benefit Concert for Ted Mulry

Michael Chugg is known for Gimme Ted: The Ted Mulry Benefit Concerts (2001), Madonna: The Girlie Show - Live Down Under (1993) and ABBA: Bang a Boomerang (2013).

57. Michael Cleary

Self | Rocky Road to Dublin

58. Neil Conn

Dance of the Dead

Neil Conn is known for Dance of the Dead (2008).

59. Ashley Cooper

Self | New Zealand Idol

60. Ted Egan

Soundtrack | Australia

Ted Egan was born on July 6, 1932 in Coburg, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He is an actor and writer, known for Australia (2008), Song for Grace and Golden Soak (1979). He is married to Nerys Evans. He was previously married to Rae ?.

61. James Fairfax

Actor | Against All Flags

James Fairfax was born on August 10, 1897 in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Against All Flags (1952), Fortunes of Captain Blood (1950) and Last Train from Bombay (1952). He was married to Jessie C. Adams. He died on May 8, 1961 in Papeete, Tahiti.

62. John Farnham

Soundtrack | Fletch

John Farnham is regarded as Australia's top performing artist, with a career spanning three decades. Born in Essex, England, John immigrated to Australia in 1959 at the age of 10. Since his debut in 1967 he has had numerous successes as a solo performer. His solo album Whispering Jack (1986) ...

63. Graham Farquhar

Self | Horizon

64. Beatrice Faust

Self | The Norman Gunston Show

Beatrice Faust was born in 1939 in Australia. She died on October 30, 2019 in Churchill, Victoria, Australia.

65. Dawn Fraser

Actress | New York Decalogue

Dawn Lorraine Fraser (born 4 September 1937) is an Australian freestyle champion swimmer and former politician. She is one of only three swimmers to have won the same Olympic event three times - in her case the women's 100-metre freestyle. Fraser was born in the Sydney suburb of Balmain, New South ...

66. Neale Fraser

Self | Wimbledon

Neale Fraser was born on October 3, 1933.

67. Evonne Goolagong Cawley

Self | It's a Knockout

Evonne Goolagong Cawley is an Australian former world No. 1 tennis player.

She was one of the world's leading players in the 1970s and early 1980s, and the number one Australian pro on tour after the retirement of Margaret Court. At the age of 19, Goolagong won the French Open singles crown and the ...

68. Lisa Gasteen

Actress | Don Giovanni

Lisa Gasteen was born on November 13, 1957 in Brisbane, Australia. She is an actress, known for Don Giovanni (1991), Siegfried (2003) and Götterdämmerung (2006).

69. Arthur George

Actor | The Diamond Bandit

Arthur George is known for The Diamond Bandit (1924).

70. Ian George

Producer | Gift from God

Ian George is known for Gift from God (2013).

71. Helen Hughes

Self | Difference of Opinion

72. Robert Hughes

Composer | Mike and Stefani

Robert Hughes emigrated to Australia with his family in 1929. He taught himself to read music, learned orchestration from books, and later gained experience while working as an orchestrator and arranger with the Australian Broadcasting Commission in Melbourne. After World War II he became music ...

73. Colin Madigan

Actor | Hopeful

Colin Madigan is known for Hopeful (2013).

74. Marlene Mathews

Self | What Makes a Champion

75. Alan Gilbert

Self | The Pendulum Pushers

76. Bill Glasson

Self | Landline

77. Irene 'Pida' Gleeson

Art_department | The Condemned

Irene 'Pida' Gleeson is known for The Condemned (2007), The Ruins (2008) and Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009).

78. Kevan Gosper

Self | Australian Story

79. Michelle Grattan

80. Jenny Graves

Self | NHK supesharu

81. Kathryn Greiner

Self | The Drum

Kathryn Greiner was born on December 17, 1946 in North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She has been married to Nick Greiner since August 1, 1970. They have two children.

82. Ray Griggs

Producer | Super Capers: The Origins of Ed and the Missing Bullion

Ray Griggs is known for Super Capers: The Origins of Ed and the Missing Bullion (2008), Lucifer (2007) and Tales Stranger Than Fiction (2023).

83. Bob Ingham

Self | Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts

Bob Ingham was born on September 30, 1931 in Casula, New South Wales, Australia. He was previously married to Norma Dorothea.

84. Clive James

Producer | Collins and Maconie's Movie Club

While at Cambridge, Clive began a fruitful songwriting partnership with Pete Atkin. With Clive's lyrics and Pete's vocals and musical settings, they released six critically-acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful albums in the early 70s before Pete moved on to audio production at the BBC. Clive ...

85. Harry Jensen

Actor | They Want My Eyes

Harry Jensen is known for They Want My Eyes (2009), Christina Aguilera: Back to Basics - Live and Down Under (2008) and Harry Jensen fortæller Erik Voss om besættelsestiden i Kolding (1986).

86. Elizabeth Jolley

Writer | The Well

Elizabeth Jolley was born on June 4, 1923 in Birmingham, England, UK. She was a writer, known for The Well (1997) and The Last Crop (1991). She was married to Leonard Jolley. She died on February 13, 2007 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

87. Alan Jones

Writer | Alan Jones

Alan Jones was born on April 13, 1941 in Oakey, Queensland, Australia. He is an actor and writer, known for Alan Jones (2020), Annie (2011) and Alan Jones: Direct to the People (2021).

88. Caroline Jones

Self | Sammy Awards 1977

Caroline Mary Jones AO (born Caroline Mary James; 1 January 1938 - May 2022) was an Australian radio and television journalist, media personality and social commentator with a career in the industry spanning over 50 years.

Jones joined the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in Canberra in ...

89. Doug Jones

Self | The People vs. George Lucas

90. Colleen McCullough

Writer | Tim

Colleen McCullough was born on June 1, 1937 in Wellington, New South Wales, Australia. She was a writer and actress, known for Tim (1979), An Indecent Obsession (1985) and The Thorn Birds (1983). She was married to Cedric Newton (Ric) Ion-Robinson. She died on January 29, 2015 in Burnt Pine, ...

91. Garry McDonald

Actor | Moulin Rouge!

Garry McDonald was born on October 30, 1948 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He is an actor and writer, known for Moulin Rouge! (2001), Mother and Son (1984) and The Rage in Placid Lake (2003). He has been married to Diane Craig since April 13, 1971. They have two children.

92. Patrick McGorry

Self | You Can't Ask That

93. Cathy McGowan

Actress | Ready, Steady, Go!

Cathy McGowan was born in 1943. She is an actress and writer, known for Ready, Steady, Go! (1963), ITV Play of the Week (1955) and Discwizz (1964). She was previously married to Hywel Bennett.

94. Simon McKeon

Self | Adam Hills in Gordon St Tonight

Winner of the 2011 Australian of the Year award.

95. Murray McLean

Self | Landline

96. George Miller

Director | The Man from Snowy River

George Miller was born on November 28, 1943 in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. He was a director and producer, known for The Man from Snowy River (1982), Matlock Police (1971) and The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter (1990). He died on February 17, 2023 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

97. Jonathan Mills

Composer | The Eternity Man

Jonathan Mills is known for The Eternity Man (2008).

98. Hal Missingham

Self | Backroom Boys at the Gallery

99. Jim Molan

Self | A Current Affair

Jim Molan was born on April 11, 1950 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He was married to Anne Molan. He died on January 16, 2023 in Royalla, New South Wales, Australia.

100. Jim Mollison

Self | Picture Page

Jim Mollison was born on April 19, 1905 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was married to Maria Clasina Eva Kamphuis, Phyllis Hussey and Amy Johnson. He died on October 30, 1959 in London, England, UK.