Useful linksFamous West Australians
Western Australia has a plausible reputation for producing successful businessmen and scientists, as well as talented artists, authors, sportsmen and entertainers - such as Adam Gilchrist, Heath Ledger, Hugh Jackman, Megan Gale and John Butler Trio.
You may have seen or heard of these individuals who were born, educated or recognised for their achievements in Perth:
| Adam "Gilly" Gilchrist, began his road to success as an Australian international cricketer when he joined Western Australia’s Western Warriors in 1994. He is an aggressive left-handed batsman, record-breaking wicket-keeper, and is considered to be one of the best wicket-keeper-batsmen in the history of the game. |
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| Aurelio Costarella gained international praise after he created history in 2007 when he listed Costarella Design Limited on the Australian Stock Exchange – an Australian first for an individual Australian fashion designer. Costarella’s label is a regular feature at New York Fashion Week. |
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| In 2005, Prof Barry Marshall and Dr Robin Warren were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine “for their discovery of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori and its role in gastritis and peptic ulcer disease”. The Marshall Centre, founded in 2007, provides a focus for infectious diseases research and epidemiology. |
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| Danny Green is an Australian professional Light Heavyweight and former Olympian, who is nicknamed “The Green Machine”. In March 2008 he retired as the WBA light heavyweight world champion, only to announce his return in February 2009. Green attended Newman College in Churchlands, Perth. |
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| Eamon Sullivan became the fastest swimmer in history after he broke the 50m Freestyle world record at the 2008 NSW Open Championships. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he set a new world record for the 100m Freestyle with a time of 47.24 seconds. However, both records have been beaten since. |
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| Elissa Down, a West Australian film-maker and Curtin University of Technology graduate, was nominated for Young Film-Maker of the Year at the WA Screen Awards in both 1999 and 2000. Her first feature film The Black Balloon (starring Gemma Ward) premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival 2008 in Germany. |
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| Ernie Dingo is an indigenous Australian actor and television presenter. He co-starred with Cate Blanchett in the Australian television drama series Heartland; narrated the Indigenous segment of the 2000 Olympic Games opening ceremony in Sydney; and is the ambassador of Australian jeweller, Linneys. |
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| Dr Fiona Wood, Director and founder of Clinical Cell Culture (C3), is internationally recognised for her pioneering work and innovative use of tissue engineering in clinical burn practice and scar reconstruction – otherwise known as “spray-on skin”. In 2005, she was named Australian of the Year. |
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| At only 16-years-of-age, Gemma Ward was the youngest model to be listed by American Vogue as one of the nine "It Girls" in the modelling world. She has appeared on 30 Vogue magazine covers worldwide, as well as modelled for designers such as Chanel, Gucci, Prada and Versace. |
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| Heath Ledger is most famous for his lead roles in Hollywood blockbusters 10 Things I Hate about You, The Patriot, Monster's Ball, A Knight's Tale, Ned Kelly, Brokeback Mountain and The Dark Knight. On 22 January 2008, Ledger died (aged 28) from an accidental toxic combination of prescription drugs. |
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| Self taught artist Helen Norton settled in Broome, Western Australia in 1985. Her obvious love of the outback and curiosity around the human condition is brilliantly captured in her internationally acclaimed work. Norton’s work can be viewed at Living Myth (formally Cockatoo Gallery). |
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| The Boy from Oz star, Hugh Jackman, is also well-known for his roles in major Hollywood films Van Helsing, Swordfish, the X-Men series and, most recently, Australia directed by Baz Luhrmann. He graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 1994. |
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| Born in Oman, Isla Fisher moved to Perth with her family when she was just nine-months-old. She began her acting career on the popular Australian soap opera Home and Away. Fisher is now best known for her comic roles in Wedding Crashers, Hot Rod and Confessions of a Shopaholic. |
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| Beginning as buskers on the streets of Fremantle, John Butler Trio have taken their music to the world and continue to grow in popularity in the United States, Europe and Japan. They have also become favourites at iconic festivals such as Fuji Rock, Glastonbury, Bonnaroo, Big Day Out and Coachella. |
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| Cricketer Justin Langer played his first international test match for Australia in 1993 against the West Indies. His opening test match partnership with Matthew Hayden was one of the most successful pairs of all-time. With over 23 centuries, 7696 runs and 105 test matches, Langer retired in 2007. |
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| Megan Gale has been described as “Italy’s hottest star since Sophia Loren”. In 2003, she was appointed by the Australian Tourist Commisson to become the “face of Australia” in Italy. Gale has also appeared in the movies Vacanze de Natale and Stregata dalla Luna. |
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| Melissa George began her career on Australian soap opera Home and Away before landing her breakthrough role as Lauren Reed on Alias in 2003. She featured in films The Amityville Horror and Derailed and, in 2006, became the face for Napoleon Perdis and ambassador for Australian jeweller, Linneys. |
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| Roberto Pierucci established the Pierucci brand in 1988. Since then it has developed into one of Australia’s most respected high-end fashion labels. Pierucci’s garments were worn by actresses Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost) and Lauren Lee Smith (Anatomy of Hope) at the 2008 Emmy Awards. |
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| Rolf Harris had chart-topping hits (such as Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport), written best-selling books and been voted the greatest entertainer ever at Glastonbury Festival. His paintings have been exhibited in London’s National Gallery and he’s an honorary member of the Royal Society of British Artists. |
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| John McManus II, known as Rove, is a multi-award winning Australian media personality. He is host of the variety show Rove Live and owner of Roving Enterprises. In 2007, Rove made his debut as a game show host in the Australian version of the US game show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? |
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| Ruth Tarvydas started out as a teenager launching her take on “pop culture” and continued on to become the first Perth designer to go international. Her luxurious dresses are sold in 29 countries and attract many celebrity fans such as Jodie Kidd, Rachael Hunter and Australia’s own Miss Universe, Jennifer Hawkins. |
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| Sam Worthington is an award-winning Perth-born actor. He won the 2004 Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award for Best Lead Actor in Somersault. In 2008, Worthington shot to fame for his role in Terminator Salvation and is now best known for his role as Jake Sully in James Cameron’s science fiction thriller Avatar (2009). |
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| Shaun Tan is the illustrator and author of award-winning adult picture books such as The Red Tree and The Lost Thing. In 2007, his wordless graphic novel The Arrival won the 2007 Picture Book of the Year. Tan has also worked as a concept artist for the animated films Horton Hears a Who and Pixar’s WALL-E. In 2011 he received the Academy Award in the Animated Short Film category for his work for The Lost Thing. |
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| Taj Burrow began surfing at the age of seven and, 13 years later, went professional in 1998. He is now recognized as one of the world’s best surfers. Burrow has written a book Taj Burrow's Book of Hot Surfing and produced several surf videos - Sabotaj, Montaj and Taj Burrow's Fair Bits. |
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| Hailing from Albany in southern Western Australia, The Waifs’ campfire-crafted songs slowly gained national acclaim by the late 90’s. They have picked up multiple ARIA Awards, signed a US release deal with Compass Records and toured through Europe and North America - with Bob Dylan among others. |
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| Musical comedian Tim Minchin became one of the most successful debut acts at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2005, selling out the 300-seat Debating Hall and winning the Perrier Award for Best Newcomer. He has released three live comedy albums - Dark Side (2005), So Rock (2006) and Ready For This? (2009). |
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| Tim Winton is one of Australia's most esteemed novelists and writers, with his work published in eighteen languages and successfully adapted for stage, screen and radio. Cloudstreet is arguably his most notable work. Winton has been named a Living Treasure by the National Trust of Australia. |  |
