Australian music legend Ted Egan dies in Alice Springs aged 93

Australian treasure and music legend Ted Egan has died at his Alice Springs home, aged 93.

His family released a statement on Thursday saying they would miss him enormously.

“It is with sadness, but also great pride that Nerys Evans and the Egan family marks the passing of our beloved partner, Dad, grandfather, great grandfather and best mate Ted Egan,” the statement said.

“Ted passed peacefully at home this morning as was his wish. We shared Ted with Territorians, Australians and the wider world.

“He lived a big and very generous life, spanning 93 years.”

Mr Egan was born in Melbourne in 1932 and moved to the Northern Territory when he was 16-years-old.

He founded the St Mary’s Football Club with Reverend Father Aubrey Collins in the Northern Territory in 1942.

The club was created to provide Tiwi Islanders working in the armed services an opportunity to play regularly in Darwin.

There was only one club that allowed full blood Aboriginals to play in the Northern Territory Football League at the time.

The club won its first premiership and backed it up with another premiership within two years of joining the league.

Mr Egan released 30 folk albums since 1969, published 15 books, created a six-part television series on Australia, worked as the NT’s administrator and was a co-host on The Great Outdoors.

He was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1993, the National Trust named Mr Egan a living treasure and he was also promoted to an Officer of the Order (AO) in 2004.

Mr Egan was inducted into the Australian Roll of Renown in 1995, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Country Music Awards of Australia in 2014 and the National Folk Festival in 2015.

He was also won several country music awards.

People across Australia have paid tribute to Mr Egan on social media saying he was an iconic musician and storyteller.

Tara Venn shared on X that Mr Egan was a champion of the people.

“He gave us all so much. Still remember the history PD he gave! Thinking of his family,” she said.

Country music star Beccy Cole said, “Vale Ted. I’m heartbroken. Such a good human.”

Victoria MLA Bernie Finn said he was deeply saddened to learn of Mr Egan’s passing.

“(Ted Egan was a) legendary Australian singer, entertainer and servant of the people of the NT,” he said.

“We will not see his like again.

“My sincere condolences to his family and fans mourning his loss. He was a national icon. May God bless and keep Ted for all eternity.”

Musician Matt Scullion said he was “absolutely heartbroken.”

“My hero and good mate Ted Egan passed away this morning in Alice Springs,” he said on Facebook.

“I feel so fortunate to have known him and to have spent time with him last year when we recorded and shot the video for my song ‘Beer Box Man’.

“For three special days we swapped stories and songs around the dinner table and he even took my wife Sharon and I four wheel driving in his old cruiser.

“Yes we will miss you Ted, long live the legacy of The Outback Song Man.”