Tor Alosson
Top 10 Famous Australian Cartoonists: Australia has a rich tradition of cartooning that spans editorial satire, political commentary, and artistic innovation. From the colonial era’s early newspaper lampoons to today’s digital and multimedia storytelling, cartoonists have played a vital role in critiquing power, capturing the national mood, and chronicling cultural change.
Their drawings have sparked debate, provoked thought, and offered laughter—even in the most turbulent times. More than mere entertainment, cartooning in Australia has become a potent form of social reflection and historical record. From iconic newspaper strips to groundbreaking digital illustrations, the following ten cartoonists have shaped public discourse and visual culture with their wit, insight, and unmistakable styles.
1. Jimmy Bancks (1889–1952): Creator of Ginger Meggs
ames Charles Bancks, affectionately known as Jimmy Bancks, was a pioneering figure in Australian cartooning, best remembered for creating the iconic red-headed larrikin Ginger Meggs. Born on 10 May 1889 in Enmore, New South Wales, Bancks began his career as a commercial artist and illustrator, gradually finding his true calling in the world of comic strips. In 1921, he launched Ginger Meggs (originally titled Us Fellers) in the Sunday Sun, and the cheeky, cricket-loving schoolboy quickly became a beloved staple of Australian culture.
Bancks’ cartoons combined humour, mischief, and heart, capturing the spirit of Aussie childhood and working-class life between the wars. His ability to reflect social values, local slang, and community spirit made Ginger Meggs not just a comic strip but a cultural touchstone. Bancks continued to draw the strip until his death in 1952, by which time Ginger Meggs had already become a national institution, appearing in newspapers across the country and internationally.
Beyond cartooning, Bancks was also a talented painter and commercial illustrator, contributing to Australia’s artistic identity during a formative period. His legacy endures through generations of artists who continued Ginger Meggs after his passing, ensuring that Bancks’ mischievous hero lives on in the hearts of Australians.
2. Stan Cross (1888–1977): Pioneer of Australian Cartooning
Stanley George Cross, born on 3 December 1888 in Los Angeles, California, was a towering figure in the evolution of Australian cartooning. Though American by birth, Cross moved to Australia as a child and went on to become one of the nation’s most influential and revered cartoonists. He made his mark with a career that spanned decades, contributing editorial and comic art to Smith’s Weekly and later to the Herald & Weekly Times, helping define the golden age of Australian cartooning.
Cross is perhaps best remembered for his legendary 1933 cartoon featuring two workmen precariously suspended on a building girder, one exclaiming, “For gorsake, stop laughing: this is serious!” — a line that has since become part of the Australian cultural lexicon. The cartoon is widely regarded as one of the most famous and enduring examples of Australian humour in visual form.
Beyond single-panel cartoons, Cross also created long-running and much-loved comic strips such as The Potts and Wally and the Major, which were fixtures in Australian newspapers for decades. His clean line work, sharp wit, and instinct for capturing the idiosyncrasies of everyday life made his cartoons accessible, entertaining, and profoundly influential.
Stan Cross wasn’t just a cartoonist; he was a mentor and founding figure in the development of cartooning as a respected art form in Australia. He served as the first president of the Australian Black and White Artists’ Club and played a key role in fostering a professional community for cartoonists nationwide. His legacy endures in both the iconic characters he created and the generations of artists he inspired.
3. Norman Lindsay (1879–1969): The Multifaceted Artist
Norman Alfred William Lindsay was one of the most provocative and versatile creative forces in Australian art and literature. Born on 22 February 1879 in Creswick, Victoria, Lindsay carved out a career that defied easy categorization—working as an artist, illustrator, sculptor, etcher, novelist, satirist, art critic, and cartoonist. His extraordinary range of talents made him both a cultural icon and a lightning rod for controversy.
Lindsay rose to prominence in the early 20th century as a regular contributor to The Bulletin, where his sharply drawn political cartoons and evocative illustrations established him as a leading figure in Australian nationalism and anti-modernist sentiment. His art often celebrated sensuality and mythology, infusing the Australian bush with classical and erotic imagery that outraged conservative critics, who labelled his work “anti-Christian” and “degenerate.” Yet, to many others, Lindsay was a symbol of creative freedom and rebellion against moral censorship, or what he famously referred to as “wowserism.”
Despite the controversies, Lindsay also left a gentler legacy through literature. His classic children’s book The Magic Pudding (1918), written in response to the claim that children preferred stories about fairies to food, remains one of the most beloved and enduring works in Australian children’s literature.
Lindsay’s Blue Mountains home, now preserved as the Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum, stands as a testament to his enduring impact on Australian art and culture. Immortalized in the 1994 film Sirens, Lindsay’s unapologetic embrace of beauty, satire, and imagination ensures his place as one of Australia’s most compelling and complex artistic voices.
4. Michael Leunig (1945–2024)): The Lyrical Cartoonist
Michael Leunig, affectionately known simply as Leunig, was one of Australia’s most distinctive and poetic cartoonists. Born on 2 June 1945 and passing away on 19 December 2024, Leunig built a decades-long career that bridged art, philosophy, and satire. His whimsical line drawings, often accompanied by gentle yet profound verse, graced the pages of The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, where they became a beloved feature for readers across generations.
Leunig’s characters—such as Mr. Curly, Vasco Pyjama, and the ever-present duck—inhabited a curious world of solitude, kindness, love, absurdity, and spiritual questioning. Through collections like The Curly Pyjama Letters, The Essential Leunig, and Short Notes from the Long History of Happiness, he offered quiet resistance to cynicism and consumerism, using humour and heartfelt reflection to explore themes of humanity, nature, and inner peace.
His talents extended beyond cartooning to poetry and prayer, penning meditative works like A Common Prayer and The Prayer Tree, which offered solace and reflection for readers seeking meaning in a noisy world.
In 1999, the National Trust of Australia named Leunig an Australian Living Treasure—a fitting title for an artist whose work illuminated the soulful undercurrents of daily life. Though sometimes controversial for his outspoken views, Leunig remained steadfast in his commitment to authenticity and emotional honesty. His legacy is one of quiet rebellion and gentle provocation, forever inviting us to pause, ponder, and feel.
5. Pat Oliphant (b. 1935): The International Satirist
Patrick Bruce “Pat” Oliphant is widely regarded as one of the greatest editorial cartoonists of the 20th century—a sharp-eyed satirist whose pen skewered the powerful across decades of global political upheaval. Born in Adelaide, South Australia, on 24 July 1935, Oliphant began his career in Australian newspapers before moving to the United States in the 1960s, where he would leave an indelible mark on American political commentary.
Oliphant’s cartoons blended precise draftsmanship, savage wit, and a deep understanding of political theatre. From Lyndon B. Johnson to Barack Obama, no American president escaped his piercing caricature, nor did global figures from Margaret Thatcher to Saddam Hussein. His trademark style—a combination of fine art and biting satire—set new standards for the editorial cartoon. He often included his small, cynical penguin character, Punk, as a biting voice of irony and dissent.
Over his career, Oliphant created thousands of daily cartoons, dozens of bronze sculptures, and an impressive catalogue of sketches and paintings. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 1967 and received numerous other accolades, including the prestigious Thomas Nast Award.
Though he retired in 2015, Oliphant’s legacy continues to shape the craft of political cartooning. With his blend of artistic mastery and unflinching critique, Pat Oliphant didn’t just comment on history—he helped draw it.
6. Bruce Petty (1929–2023): Engineer of Political Satire
Bruce Leslie Petty was one of Australia’s most original and thought-provoking political cartoonists—an artist, satirist, and sculptor whose work reimagined the world as a chaotic yet interconnected web of systems and machinery. Born on 23 November 1929, Petty rose to prominence through his regular contributions to The Age, where his instantly recognizable style—dubbed “doodle-bombs”—captured the complexities of politics, economics, and society with sprawling, intricate linework.
Petty’s illustrations didn’t just mock politicians; they mapped the absurdities of bureaucracy, capitalism, and ideology with visual metaphors that resembled vast, scribbly machines. As Age journalist Martin Flanagan once put it, Petty “re-invented the world as a vast scribbly machine with interlocking cogs and levers that connected people in wholly logical but unlikely ways.”
Beyond print, Petty also made his mark in animation and documentary filmmaking. His 1976 animated film Leisure won an Academy Award, and his later works, like the documentary Global Haywire (2007), explored globalisation, conflict, and ideology through his signature visual storytelling.
Throughout his prolific career, Petty received numerous accolades, including a Silver Stanley Award from the Australian Cartoonists’ Association, an AFI Award for Best Documentary Director, the Melbourne Press Club’s Quill Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Walkley Award for Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism.
Bruce Petty’s legacy endures as that of a master craftsman of satire—one who not only critiqued power but diagrammed the dysfunctional systems that sustain it, all through the restless genius of his pen.
7. Bill Leak (1956–2017): The Provocative Commentator
Desmond Robert “Bill” Leak was a bold and controversial figure in Australian art and journalism—a cartoonist, caricaturist, and portraitist whose work ignited both admiration and outrage. Born on 9 January 1956, Leak carved out a career defined by sharp satire, technical mastery, and a fearless commitment to expressing his views, no matter how polarising. His editorial cartoons, which ran in The Bulletin, The Sydney Morning Herald, and later The Australian, often stirred national debate and earned him a reputation as one of the country’s most provocative visual commentators.
Educated at the Julian Ashton Art School in the 1970s, Leak combined classical training with a razor-sharp political instinct. His cartoons were first published in The Bulletin in 1983, and by the mid-1990s, he had become a staple at The Australian, where his controversial takes on immigration, Indigenous issues, and political correctness sparked headlines and public backlash. Yet even his critics acknowledged his immense artistic talent, with journalist Peter FitzSimons describing him as “colossally talented, driven, and passionate for his craft.”
In addition to cartooning, Leak was a successful portrait artist, frequently entering the prestigious Archibald Prize. He won the People’s Choice Award in 1994 for his portrait of Malcolm Turnbull and twice claimed the Packing Room Prize for portraits of Tex Perkins and Sir Les Patterson. He also explored his creative and philosophical views through a novel (Heart Cancer, 2005) and a television series (Face Painting, 2008), which documented his process and reflections on portraiture.
Though often embroiled in controversy, Leak’s work served as a flashpoint for broader conversations about free speech, satire, and the role of art in public discourse. Whether praised or protested, his cartoons ensured that Australian audiences never looked at the news the same way again.
8. Cathy Wilcox (b. 1963): The Observational Satirist
Cathy Wilcox is one of Australia’s most perceptive and versatile cartoonists, celebrated for her elegant blend of humour, compassion, and razor-sharp commentary. Born in 1963, Wilcox has been a leading voice in Australian editorial cartooning for over three decades, contributing regularly to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Her work often reflects the absurdities of daily life, the contradictions of politics, and the emotional undercurrents of social issues—always with a human touch.
Wilcox’s cartoons are renowned not only for their wit but also for their clarity and empathy. Her 2007 Walkley Award-winning cartoon—responding to Sheikh Taj el-Din al Hilaly’s infamous “uncovered meat” remarks—struck a chord nationwide. She earned subsequent Walkley Awards for Kevin Cleans Up and her poignant 2017 cartoon Low-cost Housing, London, a searing commentary on the Grenfell Tower fire. These works exemplify her ability to distill tragedy and hypocrisy into a single, powerful frame.
Beyond the opinion pages, Wilcox is also an accomplished children’s book illustrator, having twice received the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Picture Book of the Year award. Her whimsical and expressive illustrations bring stories to life with charm and warmth, showcasing her range as both a satirist and storyteller.
Her peers have consistently recognised her talent: she has received multiple Stanley Awards from the Australian Cartoonists Association, including for Best Editorial/Political Cartoonist and Best Single Gag Artist. She was also named Cartoonist of the Year by the Museum of Australian Democracy in 2009, 2016, and 2020.
Cathy Wilcox continues to shine as a thoughtful, incisive commentator whose work engages audiences with both wit and wisdom—holding a mirror to the nation, one cartoon at a time.
9. David Rowe (b. 1968) The Maestro of Merciless Caricature
David Alexander Rowe is one of Australia’s most prolific and visually arresting editorial cartoonists, renowned for his unflinching satire, vivid caricatures, and an eye for political theatre that borders on operatic. As the long-time cartoonist for the Australian Financial Review, Rowe has captured the drama of federal politics with biting wit, grotesque exaggeration, and a rare artistic flair that distinguishes him in the crowded field of political cartooning.
Raised in Canberra in a politically immersed household—his father worked for the Department of Foreign Affairs and his mother in the Prime Minister’s Department—Rowe was steeped in the rhythms of government life from an early age. He initially pursued economics at the Australian National University but later pivoted to art history, political science, and graphic design, eventually studying at the Canberra Art School. This eclectic education underpins his work’s unique fusion of aesthetic richness and deep political awareness.
Beginning his cartooning career with The Canberra Times in the 1980s, Rowe soon developed a signature style marked by bold colour, dynamic linework, and symbolic complexity. His cartoons often resemble surrealist theatre, where politicians become monstrous or mythological figures, and news events are transformed into visual spectacles of absurdity and truth.
Rowe has earned widespread acclaim, regularly featuring in Best Australian Political Cartoons and having his works archived in the National Museum of Australia. He was named “Behind the Lines” Cartoonist of the Year in both 2013 and 2017, and has won more Gold Stanley Awards from the Australian Cartoonists’ Association than any other artist—eleven in total, including an extraordinary four-year consecutive run from 2017 to 2020. He is also a four-time Walkley Award winner for his outstanding contributions to Australian journalism.
In addition to his political work, Rowe’s 2015 release Mindless Colouring 101 offered fans a playful side of his art, turning satire into an interactive and meditative experience.
David Rowe remains a commanding force in Australian visual commentary—his work a swirling carnival of chaos, critique, and artistic brilliance that both skewers and immortalises the political figures of our time.
10. Andrew Marlton: The Marsupial Satirist Behind First Dog on the Moon
Andrew Marlton, better known by his whimsical pseudonym First Dog on the Moon, is one of Australia’s most distinctive and beloved political cartoonists. Known for his surreal marsupial characters, satirical animal parables, and sharp-eyed commentary, Marlton has turned political cartooning into an art of absurdist clarity.
He first rose to prominence as a regular contributor to Crikey from 2007 to 2014, where his offbeat style and insightful social critiques quickly gained a loyal following. In 2014, he joined Guardian Australia, where his cartoons continue to bring both laughs and laments as they skewer everything from climate denialism to media spin, political grandstanding, and corporate greed.
Marlton’s work often features a cast of recurring animal characters—like Brenda the Civil Disobedience Penguin and the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot—that serve as mouthpieces for biting satire and quiet reflection. His unique blend of charm, humour, and moral clarity earned him the 2012 Walkley Award for Best Cartoon.
Beyond the page, Marlton extends his work through live performances, books, and his long-running blog, First Blog on the Moon. Whether through digital cartoons, tea towels, or one-man shows, First Dog on the Moon remains a vital and endearing voice in Australian political discourse—an anarcho-marsupialist with a heart, a pen, and a perfectly timed punchline.
Andrew Marlton, known by his pen name First Dog on the Moon, is a cartoonist celebrated for his satirical take on politics and society. His unique characters and humorous commentary have garnered a dedicated following.
These ten cartoonists have not only entertained and informed but have also challenged Australia to see itself with greater honesty, humour, and humanity. Their work has transcended the confines of newspapers and digital platforms, influencing public opinion, political debate, and even government policy. Through satire, wit, and visual storytelling, they have provided Australians with alternative lenses through which to view power, injustice, and the absurdities of everyday life. Their legacy continues to influence new generations of illustrators and political commentators, inspiring a vibrant and evolving tradition of cartooning that remains as relevant as ever in an age of rapid change and global uncertainty.
Frequently Asked Questions: Australian Cartoonists
Who are some of the most famous Australian cartoonists?
Notable Australian cartoonists include:
- Pat Oliphant – Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist.
- Michael Leunig – Known for whimsical, philosophical, and political cartoons.
- Bruce Petty – Political satire and caricatures.
- First Dog on the Moon (Andrew Marlton) – Humorous and satirical political cartoons.
- Bill Leak – Controversial editorial cartoonist for The Australian.
- David Pope – Political cartoonist known for sharp commentary.
- Ginger Meggs (Jimmy Bancks) – Creator of Australia’s most famous comic strip.
- Paul Rigby – Award-winning editorial cartoonist.
What are the most famous Australian comic strips and cartoons?
Ginger Meggs, Swamp (by Gary Clark), Beyond the Black Stump (by Sean Leahy), and First Dog on the Moon (political satire webcomic).
Are Australian cartoonists known internationally?
Yes, Pat Oliphant became one of the most famous editorial cartoonists in the U.S., and Michael Leunig is recognized for his philosophical and artistic works.
What themes are common in Australian cartoons?
Political satire, social issues, humor, environmental concerns, and reflections on Australian identity and culture.
Where can I read Australian cartoons and comics?
In newspapers (The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian), magazines, online platforms, and books featuring Australian cartoonists.
Do Australian cartoonists create political cartoons?
Yes, Australia has a strong tradition of political cartoons, with cartoonists like David Pope, Bill Leak, and First Dog on the Moon using satire to comment on politics and current affairs.
Is there a strong comic culture in Australia?
Yes, Australia has a vibrant comic and cartooning scene, with events like Supanova Pop Culture Expo and Comic Con Australia supporting local artists.
How has Australia contributed to global comics and animation?
Australian animators and illustrators have worked on international projects, and iconic strips like Ginger Meggs have influenced comic culture globally.
Are there superhero comics in Australia?
While not as dominant as in the U.S., Australian superhero comics like The Southern Squadron and Dark Nebula have gained a cult following.
Can non-Australian readers access Australian comics and cartoons?
Yes, many Australian comics are available online, in international newspapers, and in books featuring Australian cartoonists.
Australian cartoonists have made significant contributions to political satire, humor, and storytelling, shaping both national and international comic traditions.
