Hilda Lane lead a colourful and varied life. The niece of William Lane (q.v.), she was born in Paraguay at the Utopian settlement founded by her uncle. Although she spent part of her childhood in South America, her family returned to Australia in 1904. The family eventually settled in Toowoomba, Queensland.
Studying music at the Sydney Conservatorium, Lane gained recognition as an opera singer of 'considerable distinction'. Described as a 'poet, composer and teacher', she also worked as a model, wrote numerous folk songs and composed an Australian folk opera.
