Peter Allen

About Peter Allen

Not many could have foreseen the life that would play out for a boy born in the regional town of Tenterfield, New South Wales, during the height of World War II. However, Peter Allen (born Peter Woolnough) was not like most boys.

His hard work and tenacity led him from piano performances at a country hotel to a glittering international career.

By the time of his untimely passing at the age of 48, Peter had cemented himself as one of Australia's most decorated singer–songwriters and most recognisable performers, with his legacy ultimately immortalised in the musical The boy from Oz.

Act I – the early days

Peter's story is not one of a meteoric rise to fame. Rather, it is one of years of dedication and determination.

Born in a small, regional town with a violent, alcohol-dependent father, Peter began life in a decidedly difficult manner. However, he had his heart set on stardom.

From a young age, Peter's ambitions were clear. He started by copying performers that he saw on screen for friends and family before moving onto solo piano performances at the New England Hotel's ladies' lounge at the tender age of 11.

Peter left school at 14 and moved to Surfers Paradise to find work following the loss of his father and grandmother in quick succession. It was there he met English singer and guitarist Chris Bell. The pair formed the 'Allen Brothers' duo.

Within 5 years the pair had found success. In 1964, while performing in Hong Kong, Judy Garland's husband, Mark Herron, attended a show and was immediately enamoured with the pair. Herron soon introduced them to Judy, who invited the duo on tour as her opening act.

Act II – from Tenterfield to the world

The Allen Brothers steadily gained momentum. However, the ending of Peter's relatively short-lived marriage to Garland's daughter, Liza Minnelli, coincided with his decision to go solo. In the following years, Peter’s career went from strength to strength.

Peter wrote several hits for himself and a host of other stars, garnering many award nominations and wins, including for Grammy and Academy awards. While he was known for his musical abilities, it was his effervescent performances paired with lavish costumes that separated him from his peers and ultimately defined his legacy.

Act III – the boy from Oz

Today, Peter Allen represents many different things to different people. To many, as the writer of the quintessential Australian tunes Tenterfield saddler and I still call Australia home, he is simply one of Australia's most cherished sons – a glittering entertainer with a uniquely entertaining flamboyance and charm who will forever be 'The Boy from Oz' and, no matter how far or how wide he would travel, would still call Australia home.

For others, he was a gay icon, a courageous trailblazer who put a face to the LGBTQIA+ community and the tragic AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. While Peter had a fondness for maintaining a playful ambiguity around his sexuality during his career, it was apparent he was a queer man who simply refused to allow others to define him.

From regional New South Wales to the international stage, Peter paved the way for generations to come, showing the world the importance of chasing your dreams and living life on your own terms.

His career was not without complexity. On several occasions, including in his famed Radio City performance with the Rockettes, Peter appeared on stage in blackface in homage to his early days copying performers.

Following Peter's passing from AIDS-related illnesses in June 1992, his life was memorialised in a musical that would go on to become the first Australian musical to open on Broadway. Todd McKenney wowed Australian audiences with his portrayal of Peter Allen in The boy from Oz, and Hugh Jackman would later win a Tony award in 2004 for his performance in that role on Broadway.

References

Making Queer History (2022) Peter Allen — Part I, Making Queer History website, accessed online 5 June 2025.