Vale Frank Thompson

Publisher Frank Thompson died on 1 January, aged 91.

The Australian Publishers Association (APA) writes:

On the first of January 2024, esteemed publisher Frank Thompson AO passed away at the age of 91. His career spanned over 30 years in publishing, including roles at AIATSIS and Angus & Robertson, and most notably at the University of Queensland Press, where he transformed the academic publisher with a focus on fiction, poetry, and a wish to encourage Indigenous writing.

Frank also served as APA president, was a long-time Board member, and was an Australian representative to the International Publishers Association.

Frank was awarded an Order of Australia in 2012 for distinguished service to the publishing industry and the promotion of modern Australian culture, particularly in the area of literary fiction and through support for emerging authors.

Craig Munro, a colleague from Frank Thompson’s time at UQP, also contributed insights and reflections, noting:

‘Frank’s visionary enthusiasm was irrepressible, and his contribution to the development of Australian publishing in the second half of the twentieth century was considerable. His enduring legacy is not just UQP and the ongoing strength of its literary list, but also the key role he played at the Publishers Association in the 1970s when the book industry was expanding and modernising.’

Munro’s full article on Frank Thompson can be found on the APA website.

Pictured: Frank Thompson outside the UQP bookshop.

Category: Obituaries