Harry Tatlock Miller was born and educated in Geelong, graduating from the Geelong Grammar School. As an eighteen-year-old he opened the Book Nook Bookshop in 1931 with stock from Elsie Belle Champion's Melbourne Booklovers' Library. He ran the bookshop from various locations in Geelong for four years, founding and publishing the significant literary and arts magazine, Manuscripts. With the magazine and the bookshop, Miller actively participated in the avant garde movements growing in Geelong and Melbourne. In 1935, the magazine was hosted by Margareta Webber from her Melbourne bookshop, but it ceased production soon after. In the same year Miller closed the Book Nook Bookshop and moved to Melbourne.
In 1939, Miller travelled to England to present an exhibition of paintings at the West End's Redfern Gallery by his partner, artist and set designer, Loudon Sainthill. Returning to Sydney, he stayed with Sainthill and other creative artists such as Donald Friend, Jocelyn Rickards and Alec Murray, at the bohemian boarding-house 'Merioola' at Edgecliff. In post-war Sydney, 'Merioola' was probably the most exciting place to live. Justin O'Brien (q.v.) has said, 'I've never laughed so much, not at people but with people. Merioola was always full of visitors; both local and overseas artists would call in [and] the mix of creative people at Merioola often led to interdisciplinary activities. The dancers would pose for [Arthur] Fleischmann or Alec Murray. The artists would make sets for theatrical activities. And Harry [Tatlock Miller] and Loudon [Sainthill] and Alec [Murray] would combine their talents as editor, designer and photographer for Ballet Rambert and Old Vic programs.' (http://www.nla.gov.au/pub/nlanews/2002/dec02/article3.html).
During this period, Miller worked as a journalist and art critic. He also collaborated with Sainthill on several books about the Australian tours of theatre and dance companies such as the Ballet Rambert and the Old Vic Theatre. These titles include The Old Vic Theatre Company : A Tour of Australia and New Zealand (1948). By the late 1940s, many of the 'Merioola' residents, including Miller, had departed for London. Miller was embraced by the artistic community of the West End, becoming director (1949-1982) and, later, chairman (1965-1982) of the Redfern Gallery. He was instrumental in gaining international exposure for artists such as Sidney Nolan and Russell Drysdale. Miller and Sainthill produced several more books on subjects such as the Royal family and Winston Churchill. Miller retired from the Redfern Gallery in 1982. He died in Salisbury seven years later.
