Frank Mahony (1862–1916) was the original illustrator for Dot and the Kangaroo, commissioned by Ethel Pedley before her death. He was born in Melbourne and died in London. After studying at the New South Wales Academy of Art, Mahony became one of Australia’s best-known artists, with two paintings bought by the Art Gallery of NSW. He illustrated a number of significant texts, including A. B. Paterson’s (1893) poem The Geebung Polo Club and Henry Lawson’s (1896) book While the Billy Boils.

 

More information is available here:

The Australian dictionary of biography