Joan Lindsay: The Hidden Life of the Woman Who Wrote Picnic at Hanging Rock

by Brenda Niall

Joan Lindsay’s Picnic at Hanging Rock has captivated and perplexed generations. But the woman behind the novel is as much an enigma as the disappearance of the fictitious schoolgirls and their teacher.

Joan Lindsay, wife of painter, art entrepreneur and National Gallery of Victoria director Daryl Lindsay, sacrificed her own artistic talent in deference to her husband, as was the order of the day. She painted landscapes with skill, but gave it up; wrote plays and novels of little merit; took routine journalism commissions for much-needed funds; and happily played hostess to guests including Dame Nellie Melba, Robert Helpman, Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, as well as Keith and Elisabeth Murdoch and Robert Menzies, at the Lindsay country house on the Mornington Peninsula—all the while giving no indication of the literary brilliance that would emerge late in her life. There were clues, though, as Brenda Niall reveals in this fascinating biography. Joan’s unconventional attitude towards time—she allowed no clocks in the house and never wore a watch—and her deep reverence for the Australian landscape hint at the mystical centre of her masterpiece.

Was Joan really the dutiful wife, or was she patiently waiting her chance? Was Picnic at Hanging Rock a burst of creativity in response to a life held in check? Or did something happen behind the carefully curated scenes that gave rise to her extraordinary novel? Joan Lindsay: The Hidden Life of the Woman who Wrote Picnic at Hanging Rock explores these questions and more in an engaging and surprising portrait of a fascinating Australian woman.

Genres: Biography, History, Australia, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2025

About the author

Brenda Niall is one of Australia’s foremost biographers. She is the author of several award-winning biographies, including her acclaimed accounts of the Boyd family and her portrait of the Durack sisters, True North. In 2016 she won the Australian Literature Society’s Gold Medal and the National Biography Award for Mannix. In 2004 she was awarded the Order of Australia for ‘services to Australian literature, as an academic, biographer and literary critic’.

Reviews

[Rosemary Atwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Niall’s warmth is endearing, but at times frustratingly insubstantial to give sufficient weight to her subject matter.

Despite Lindsay being presented as talented artist and writer who found lasting fame at seventy, it’s hard not to view her as yet another self-sacrificing wife and servant to her husband’s career, or worse, a dilettante in search of a vocation. This problematic view is also emphasised through an overly genteel writing style.

Niall is a sympathetic and thorough biographer, but seems uncertain of her audience. For this reader, the uncovering of Lindsay’s ‘hidden’ life remains ultimately unfulfilling.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big thanks to Text Publishing for sending us a copy to read and review.
Picnic At Hanging Rock is my favourite Australian film, so to have the opportunity to read a memoir of its creator, was a big yes from me.
Joan Lindsay lead a lonely existence and was creative through writing and painting.
This biography goes from her early life as a sister who her parents didn’t really have time for.
Her initial years of creativity and marrying into the famous Lindsay family.
Her husband Daryl, was well known and respected in the artist world.
She hated time and clocks and was happier without that restriction.
Joan was a delightful hostess and their grand home Mulberry Hill was a stop for the famous.
Some of her work was greatly received and some were flops but it wasn’t until later in life that Joan was at the peak of her success.
Finally coming out from Daryl’s shadow, her literary masterpiece captivated the world and her husband was jealous.
Picnic At Hanging Rock was a hit.
The book, after at the request of her publisher to remove the final chapter where all is revealed, had audiences mystified and fascinated.
A prosperous box office film was made and still today it remains much loved.
The world was at Joan’s feet.
An inspiring, welcoming and entertaining read.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting.

[Avril · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Brenda Niall’s biographies - she’s a beautiful writer who thoughtfully illuminates the lives of her subject. She portrays Lindsay as a woman who gave up her own artistic career for the sake of her marriage, but who blossomed in later life with all that came from her writing of Picnic at Hanging Rock and its film. Now I need to reread Picnic.

[Ann Koenig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit over the Lindsays

[Text Publishing]

The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing, publisher of Joan Lindsay: The Hidden Life of the Woman Wrote Picnic at Hanging Rock.

‘Niall’s short but limpidly written biography leaves the most tantalising mysteries of her life unsolved, just as its subject would have wanted.’
Tom Gilling, Weekend Australian

‘When it comes to biography, Brenda Niall is indefatigable.’
Jason Steger, Age/SMH

‘The great pleasure of this new biography…is to share with Niall and Lindsay the author’s delight in her late success and her new identity as a writer. The scenes during which Picnic at Hanging Rock was filmed at Lindsay’s home, the closing chapters of the biography, are joyful and exuberant.’
Guardian

‘This deep dive into Joan’s life is simply fascinating.’
New Idea

‘Brenda Niall is one of Australia’s premier literary biographers and in Joan Lindsay: The Hidden Life of The Woman Who Wrote Picnic at Hanging Rock she’s at her best, bringing Lindsay further to life and further illuminating her seminal work.’
Michael Williams, QANTAS Magazine

‘A change of pace with non-fiction. Brenda Niall is one of Australia's best biographers and her new book, Joan Lindsay, is about the writer behind one of Australia's most compelling works of fiction, Picnic at Hanging Rock. For most of her life, Joan was the wife of a more famous man, Daryl Lindsay, sacrificing her artistic talent for his own artistic career. Niall explores the enigmatic life of Joan, and what lay behind her captivating novel that has endured so successfully.’
Fairfield Books

‘…Enthralling. Lindsay is a beguiling, almost inscrutable, subject. Niall delves forensically into her fabric, body and soul.’
Carmel Bird, Saturday Paper

‘5 stars. Brenda Niall, one of this nation’s most celebrated authors, particularly as a biographer, has turned her attention to the hidden life of Joan Lindsay…’
Good Reading

[Tim Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful and paints a picture of a patient but enigmatic author in the wings. I remember reading Picnic for the first time as a teenager and then seeing the equally haunting and mysterious film version. I loved Joan's simple reply to a request for an explanation of what happened. Its a mystery and if I told you, there would be no mystery! Hanging Rock is reminiscent of the Celtic stones in Outlander - a foreboding presence that keeps it own counsel for all those who climb it.

[MBC · Rating 1 out of 5]

One could be forgiven for forgetting this is a book about Joan Lindsay. In fact, at times Brenda Niall seems intent on mentioning every other family acquaintance over the titular subject. I was at my wits' end hearing about the Murdochs, Menzies, Grimwade, Spencer, the Caseys... the list goes on. If I had wanted to read about them (or Ursula Hoff) I would have chosen the appropriate book.

From the outset, I acknowledge my fierce protectiveness over my favourite novel and the shrewd, evasive, observant woman who wrote it. Perhaps this is why I found this book almost disrespectful to her life and memory.

I was disconcerted by the frequent rhetorical questions and the speculative nature of Niall's writing. There was no need for assumptions to be made about what Joan may have thought, read, heard, felt about children, how she saw the world. One page claimed that Joan could not have thought about Aboriginal dispossession purely because her worldview was clouded by anthropologist Baldwin Spencer. I beg one's pardon. What would you know? I would have appreciated more concern from a biographer. Granted, Joan was deliberate with the self she gave to the world and many of her private thoughts and recollections have likely been destroyed. I do not see this a fit excuse for not taking greater care with conjecture. How on Earth does the author know whether or not the exhibition in 1972 made Joan regretful for what could have been? Why does the author theorise about what Daryl must have felt seeing the film crew around his dining table (again mentioning famous friends). Why say that at all?

If Joan did live her life to support her husband - by giving up painting, outwardly ignoring his musing of others and accepting the public remarks of her subordination - there was no need for it to continue in her biography. It is a cruel misremembering of a great woman, who because of this book has again been denied agency and personhood.

Do not expect to discover anything about the Lindsays, Joan herself or Picnic at Hanging Rock if you have already read elsewhere. There are no surprises here.

Seeing as when I put in the loan to the library I was 47th in the queue, I waited with bated breath for this. Such a shame.

[Gretchen Bernet-Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subtitle of this book reads ‘The hidden life of the woman who wrote Picnic at Hanging Rock’, a story later created into the inspiring and ethereal movie of the same name. But Joan Lindsay had many more talents, some recognised and some overlooked. It would seem that she could turn her hand to anything in the arts field while keeping her husband Daryl (later knighted Sir Daryl) on an even keel, both professionally and personally, with more mentions of him in this book than reclusive Joan. She gave up painting because of him. Author Brenda Niall dishes no dirt and neither does Joan’s own well compiled but personally unrevealing autobiography. She had put-downs from a British publisher and demeaning comments from other sources. Unfortunately being treated like women of her time, Joan was underrated and underappreciated and told to keep her husband happy. Fortunately she and Daryl travelled a lot and did things which gave her tranquillity and contentment in later life.

Joan destroyed family documents but she had a sense of the ridiculous. Page 93 mentions her book ‘Through Darkest Pondelayo’ based on her significant time spent in Europe. Martin Boyd called it ‘one of the best collections of malapropisms in the English language.’ I loved reading about her time at Mulberry Hill farm and the glorious name-dropping of future bigwigs. The latter half of the book is about the film ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’, how it came about and all the insider details from finances to fan mail. The endnotes and bibliography are helpful to understand events but the fact remains that Joan was tight-lipped about the famous story’s mysterious ending. Author Niall takes a stab at explaining ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ and I can see the similarities between it and Joan’s life. Very poignant really and I wonder how much more well known she could have been if living in the 21st century. From what I have read, I think she would not have liked the fuss.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Through...

[Philippa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recall watching the film Picnic at Hanging Rock after it was released in the 1970’s or 80’s. I’m not sure exactly when I watched this film but it had a powerful impact on me. It depicted the Australian bush with an ethereal beauty capturing and drawing in beautiful young women in a mystery, one that was to remain unsolved. I, too, wondered what happened to these 3 women who disappeared and it is in reading this biography of Joan Lindsay that I am now much more satisfied.

Joan Lindsay, wife of Daryl Lindsay director of the National Gallery of Victoria in its early years played the role of supporter, encourager, promoter and second fiddle to her husband most of her life. Brenda Niall’s biography of Joan Lindsay is outstanding for the way she shows us how Joan both subsumed her role as an artist and creative in deference to her husband and yet was gifted in both these areas. Niall shows us how Joan was recognised by many including Elisabeth Murdoch, for her skills and yet kept keeping them contained because that was the job of a woman. Niall perceptively uncovers Joan’s interest in the spiritual or dreamy world where things might be and how the impact of her childhood and schooling can be seen in this story Picnic at Hanging Rock. Niall does not avoid writing about the early failures in Lindsay’s writing and helps us see how these failures fit into a much more complex woman gifted and trying to remain dutiful to her husband.

This is an excellent contribution to our understanding and knowledge of a woman who did contribute much to the development of our comprehension of what it means to be an Australian.
5 stars.

[Giovanna Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

My parents lived in East Melbourne when Lindsay was there, so for me it was interesting to hear more about her life (after hearing snippets from my parents).
Lindsay didn't leave much detail about her inner thoughts, she carefully curated them (those that were written privately were more than likely destroyed) and her book Time Without Clocks is kind to her husband, even if he doesn't seem that kind to her.
Niall speculates, but not so much to be annoying.
I also found it interesting to read about the life of women around that time in Australia. Wow. What a long way we've come, and what a long way to go. The Invisible Wife chapter, ouch, she worked at the NGV and wasn't paid, yes you read that right.
When Lindsay did have success late in life her husband wasn't even happy for her, curmudgeon. She'd given up so much for him.
I finished the book still a bit unsure of Lindsay's 'hidden life', but Niall did well with what she had.

[Francesca Pashby · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Picnic at Hanging Rock" is possibly my favourite film of all time, so when I heard that a biography of its author was being published ... I was in!

This was fine, although I have to say there was remarkably little to learn about Joan ... as it seems even her own papers/archive are curated in such a way as to be very unrevealing!

Only the final 2 chapters touch on the novel (she actually trained as an artist, but then basically put all her own desires on hold to support her husband and his career), and she actually didn't publish PAHR until she was pushing 70.

That said, I will now need to go back to the novel and read it again ... and then rewatch the film, of course.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book exploring the private life of Joan Lindsay. She was an artist in her own right, then an author, writing for publications for the NGV when her husband Daryl Lindsay, was the director. Her most famous book, Picnic at Hanging Rock was published when she was 73yo. Well known Melbourne identities are mentioned in the biography, like a who’s who of Melbourne.

[Saturday's Child · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joan Lindsay wrote one of my favourite novels, Picnic at Hanging Rock so of course I was interested in reading more about her life. It seems that she is a bit of a mystery herself as not all was revealed about her. I read this quickly in a few sittings as I enjoyed what the author was able to share.

[Lyn Quilty · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at the life of Joan Lindsay , marred a little for me by speculation about some points in her life. For example, that she may have been pregnant when she married, that she suffered a miscarriage on the boat back to Australia. No proof is offered. The book does convey a sense of time and place well.

[Suzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of postulation - "perhaps she thought this" and "maybe she felt this"- which detracted from the book IMHO. Lots of info about intersecting family and friends, but ultimately I found it a little unsatisfying

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting life and yet another woman whose talent was suppressed because of a husband's ego but the biography was unnecessarily repetitive.

[Erin Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Diane Hewson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an interesting life.