Born in Grafton, New South Wales, she studied at the University of New England in Armidale and, after gaining a PhD in English (on the work of Samuel Beckett) at the Australian National University, she moved to Perth in 1984.
She was a Winthrop Professor of English and Cultural Studies at the University of Western Australia.
[1] Walker was killed on 10 December 2024 while crossing Kings Park Road in Perth by a driver speeding at 97 kilometres per hour (60 mph).
The driver was moments earlier seen driving at 104 kilometres per hour (65 mph), while the speed limit on Kings Park Road is 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph).
The driver was charged with dangerous driving causing death in circumstances of aggravation.