Yass

Distinguished and Famous people from Yass

Yass is a small country town located in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. Despite its size, the town has produced many distinguished and famous people who have made significant contributions to various fields. Here are some notable individuals from Yass:

1. Sir Walter Burley Griffin - Born in Yass in 1876, Walter Burley Griffin was an American architect who designed the city of Canberra, the capital of Australia. He won the international competition to design the city in 1911 and lived in Australia until his death in 1937.

2. Hamilton Hume - Hamilton Hume was an Australian explorer and pioneer who was born in Yass in 1797. He is best known for his discovery of the Murray River and his exploration of the Australian inland.

3. Michael Slater - Michael Slater is a former Australian cricketer who was born in Wagga Wagga but grew up in Yass. He played for the Australian cricket team from 1993 to 2001 and scored over 5,000 runs in Test matches.

4. Caroline Chisholm - Caroline Chisholm was a social reformer who was born in England in 1808 but migrated to Australia in 1838 and settled in Yass. She is best known for her work in assisting immigrants, particularly women and children, in finding employment and accommodation in Australia.

5. Dame Joan Sutherland - Dame Joan Sutherland was an Australian soprano who was born in Sydney in 1926 but spent part of her childhood in Yass. She was one of the most famous opera singers of the 20th century, known for her performances in operas such as La Traviata and Lucia di Lammermoor.

6. Geoff Horsnell - Geoff Horsnell was a swimmer who competed for Australia in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. He grew up in Yass and began swimming competitively at a young age.

7. Amanda Keller - Amanda Keller is a well-known Australian television and radio personality who was born in Sydney but grew up in Yass. She is best known for her roles as a host on shows such as The Living Room and The Andrew Denton Breakfast Show.

8. Warren Brown - Warren Brown is a cartoonist and author who was born in Sydney but grew up in Yass. He is known for his satirical cartoons and his popular children’s book series, The Little Aussie Battler.

9. Charles Barton Fairfax - Charles Barton Fairfax was a wealthy landowner and politician who lived in the Yass district in the 19th century. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and the first chairman of the Bank of New South Wales.

10. Catherine Helen Spence - Catherine Helen Spence was a feminist, social reformer and author who was born in Scotland in 1825 but migrated to Australia in 1839 and settled in Yass. She was the first Australian woman to become a political candidate and the first woman to write a novel about Australia.

These are just some of the distinguished and famous people who hail from the town of Yass. Despite its size, the town has a rich history of producing individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, and their legacies continue to inspire and influence people to this day.