Dorothy Drain (16 August 1909 – 31 May 1996) was an Australian journalist, columnist, war correspondent, editor and poet.

She won the 1926 Brunton Stephens essay, commenting at the time: "printer's ink, inherited from [my] father, has an irresistible attraction" and that she intended to "follow up the call of journalism".

[7] Drain passed a Public Service examination and in 1927 accepted a position at the State Insurance Office in Brisbane.

[11] She began writing poetry, most of it with a humorous twist, which was published regularly in the satirical periodical Smith's Weekly.

[1][17][18][19][20] A memorable career moment occurred in 1955 when she secured an interview with Frank Sinatra who was flying out to Australia for a tour.

[21] In 1936 when she was a young journalist Drain was living at 4 Tusculum Street, Kings Cross, in the inner eastern suburbs of Sydney.

[3] She would later write: "The reputation of The Cross was bohemian, even slightly wicked, just the sort of place to attract young people coming to the big city.

[24] In November 2023 it was announced that Drain was one of eight women chosen to be commemorated in the second round of blue plaques sponsored by the Government of New South Wales alongside Kathleen Butler, godmother of Sydney Harbour Bridge; Emma Jane Callaghan, an Aboriginal midwife and activist; Susan Katherina Schardt; writer Charmian Clift; Pearl Mary Gibbs an Aboriginal rights movement activist; Beryl Mary McLaughlin, one of the first three women to graduate in architecture from the University of Sydney; and Grace Emily Munro.