AustLit

Peter Shoobridge was the son of a wealthy farming family that traced its origins back to the foundation of Tasmania. He was educated at the Hutchins School at Sandy Bay, Hobart, a private school. Over the years he worked as a shearer and jackaroo and delivered beer. Shoobridge travelled extensively and worked in England, Scotland, Denmark and the US. He was a published poet known locally as 'Poet Pete'.

Shoobridge restored antiques and lived on an idyllic country estate. He married Wendy nee Innes and had four daughters. Peter Shoobridge killed his four daughters at Cambridge, Tasmania on 26 June 1997 and then took his own life. Shortly before killing himself he wrote 'Would it be right to bring children up in such a world' and mailed letters to family and friends. Shoobridge was depressed by his recent sacking from his job as manager of a vineyard and estrangement from his wife.

(Source: Kate de Brito 'Snapped/Poetic Injustice', The Daily Telegraph (5 July 1997): 27).