AustLit

Mark Kleinschmidt spent his childhood in the outback of South-West Queensland, and these formative years shaped his love of the land and its people.

With more than twenty years experience of working in the pastoral industry, Kleinschmidt has subsequently forged 'deep philosophical and emotional links' to the harsh outback landscape. It is this lifetime connection to the Australian bush which has proved to be a powerful 'source of inspiration' for Kleinschmidt's poetry.

In 1995 Kleinschmidt moved to Longreach to work as a guide at the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre. He has also performed bush poetry for tourists in the Longreach region.