AustLit logo
NLA image of person
Victor Kelleher Victor Kelleher i(A25908 works by)
Also writes as: Veronica Hart
Born: Established: 1939 London,
c
England,
c
c
United Kingdom (UK),
c
Western Europe, Europe,
;
Gender: Male
Arrived in Australia: 1976
Heritage: English
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

Works By

Preview all
1 y separately published work icon The Cave Victor Kelleher , Armidale : Eagle Books , 2024 27388649 2024 single work children's fiction children's

'Irian, Ulana and their Clan have made the cave their home ever since they used fire to drive off the Beast – a sabre-toothed tiger that had been preying on them. Protected by an ongoing fire at the cave mouth, they continue to keep the Beast at bay… until one fateful night when the fire goes out! What happens next shatters the Clan and leaves Ulana badly injured and Irian too traumatised even to speak.

' Alone and adrift in their dangerous prehistoric world, they have little hope of survival. What saves them is a chance meeting with a prickly old woman called Trug. Grudgingly, she takes them on a strange, unexpected journey of discovery, flinging them into the many wonders and hard realities of ancient times.

'And that hazardous journey will eventually lead them full circle:  back to the challenge of the cave, and the enduring reality of the Beast….

' An exciting story set in a richly-recreated Paleolithic past, this novel for middle-grade readers is both an extraordinary adventure and a moving exploration of loss, survival and courage.' (Publication summary)

1 1 y separately published work icon Wanderer Victor Kelleher , Armidale : Christmas Press , 2022 24842874 2022 single work children's fiction children's 'In a dangerous world where predators roam both land and sea, an orphaned young boatman, Dane, wanders alone. Faced with the terrors of the water and the ever-present threat of a warrior group called the Clan, he struggles to survive. Along with his precious kayak, Dane has one other treasure: a much-loved book given to him by his mother, which is a source of comfort in the hardest of times. When he encounters Garth, a book-loving old boat builder, and his amazing granddaughter Lana, everything changes, as he and Lana are pitched into a perilous quest that challenges all they hold dear. The first middle-grade novel in many years, by one of Australia's greatest storytellers, Wanderer is an exciting adventure set in a brilliantly-imagined world. It is also a lyrical love song to the power of books and stories.' (Publication summary)
1 y separately published work icon Animal Tales Raewyn Caisley , Bruce Dawe , Rachel Flynn , Jane Godwin , Victor Kelleher , Scoresby : Penguin , 2014 7608525 2014 selected work children's fiction

'Have you ever wanted to have a cat for a pet, a very large cat? Need another player for cricket? How about Scruffy, the dog? How cute are Penguins? What would you do to help save one? A very wet kitten and an even wetter goldfish, will they stay in the family?

'A wonderful collection of heartfelt stories all about pets and animals.' (Publication summary)

1 y separately published work icon Gibblewort the Goblin : The Winter Escape Collection Victor Kelleher , North Sydney : Random House Australia , 2014 7065170 2014 selected work children's fiction
1 y separately published work icon Gibblewort the Goblin : The Summer Holiday Collection Victor Kelleher , North Sydney : Random House Australia , 2014 7065113 2014 selected work children's fiction
1 y separately published work icon Gibblewort the Goblin : Get Me Outta Here Collection Victor Kelleher , North Sydney : Random House Australia , 2014 7065012 2014 selected work children's fiction
1 Birthing Victor Kelleher , 2011 single work short story fantasy
— Appears in: The Wicked Wood 2011; (p. 209-248)
1 y separately published work icon Goblin at the Beach Victor Kelleher , North Sydney : Random House Australia , 2007 Z1446439 2007 single work children's fiction children's humour

'From the ski slopes of the Snowy Mountains to the rainforests of Far North Queensland - and everywhere in between - Gibblewort The Goblin has blundered, crawled and whinged his way through Australia's vast landscape. So surely a relaxing day at the beach will be safe?! Not if 'fun in the sun' includes frying your feet on hot sand, accidentally chugging down sun cream and hitching a ride on an angry shark. Can Gibblewort beat the heat and finally get back home to rainy ol' Ireland?' (Publication summary)

1 1 y separately published work icon Tim and Tig Victor Kelleher , Camberwell : Puffin , 2007 Z1353407 2007 single work children's fiction children's

'Tim's birthday present from his Aunt Ethel is a kitten. A very LARGE kitten.' (Publication summary)

1 y separately published work icon The Magic Violin Victor Kelleher , Camberwell : Penguin , 2006 Z1333081 2006 single work children's fiction children's When Jimbo plays the violin the music is so terrible that the violin takes over and creates its own sound.
1 y separately published work icon Goblin at the Zoo Victor Kelleher , Milsons Point : Random House Australia , 2005 Z1213192 2005 single work children's fiction children's humour

'When Gibblewort wakes up at the zoo, he thinks he's in deepest, darkest Africa. So he squeezes his way into a nice, safe cage – only to find he's become the object of affection for a female chimpanzee! Every time Gibblewort manages to escape her clutches, he finds himself being thrown, kicked, tossed, shaken and even electrocuted back into the chimps' enclosure ... and Daisy's long hairy arms! How is everyone's favourite nasty little goblin going to get out of this one? ' (Publication summary)

1 8 y separately published work icon Dogboy Victor Kelleher , Camberwell : Penguin , 2005 Z1207344 2005 single work novel young adult An abandoned baby boy is found by a female dog. The dog suckles and 'raises' the child, but the growing child is rejected by human society.
1 y separately published work icon Goblin in the Snow Victor Kelleher , Milsons Point : Random House Australia , 2005 Z1196446 2005 single work children's fiction children's humour
1 6 y separately published work icon Where's God? Victor Kelleher , Elise Hurst (illustrator), South Melbourne : Lothian , 2005 Z1178737 2005 single work picture book children's A young boy searches for God in his neighbourhood.
1 y separately published work icon What Dino Saw Victor Kelleher , Camberwell : Puffin , 2004 Z1187094 2004 single work picture book children's
1 1 y separately published work icon Spaceman Bill Victor Kelleher , Bulimba : Word Weavers Press , 2004 Z1186976 2004 single work children's fiction children's
1 1 y separately published work icon The Grimes Family Victor Kelleher , South Melbourne : Lothian , 2004 Z1155853 2004 single work children's fiction children's
1 y separately published work icon Goblin in the Rainforest Victor Kelleher , Milsons Point : Random House Australia , 2004 Z1120296 2004 single work children's fiction children's humour

'Gibblewort the goblin is filled with joy when he crawls out of his postbag to find damp earth, falling rain and the sound of the wind through the trees. He's made it home to Ireland at last! Except it's not Ireland, it's the Australian Rainforest, and Gibblewort soon finds himself being stung, squeezed, sucked, nipped and pecked by all sorts of strange and unusual creatures...Another hilarious adventure from everyone's favourite grouchy goblin.' (Publication summary)

2 1 y separately published work icon Goblin in the City Victor Kelleher , Milsons Point : Random House , 2004 Z1118855 2004 single work children's fiction children's humour

"Gibblewort is constantly making trouble for himself and the other goblins. So the only solution is to send him to Australia. Whether it's the bush, the snow, the rainforest or the city, Gibblewort the Goblin seems to get into trouble wherever he goes." (Source: Trove)

2 1 y separately published work icon Goblin on the Reef Victor Kelleher , Milsons Point : Random House , 2003 Z1118865 2003 single work children's fiction children's humour

"Gibblewort the Irish goblin is as nasty as ever. When his goblin friends get tired of his wicked ways, they teach him a lesson by packing him off to a damp part of Australia. The place he ends up in couldn't be damper, the Great Barrier Reef." (Source: Trove)

X