McFadyen was born at "Burrundulla", John Street, Stanmore on 26 November 1887 to Donald and Mary (née Wilson).

[4] In addition to contributing to The Sydney Mail,[5][6][7][8][9][10] her poems and short stories appeared in a number of other newspapers, including Australian Town and Country Journal and The Lone Hand.

McFadyen's first book of poetry, Outland born and other verses, published in 1911, was favourably reviewed by The Register (Adelaide) of 2 December 1911, who wrote "has a wealth of imagery, a fertile fancy, much technical skill, and in particular a virility".

[12][13] In late 1919 she was chosen to conduct "The Children’s Page" for The Sydney Mail, a role she fulfilled until the newspaper closed on 28 December 1938.

of The Sydney Mail complemented her for her "singing pen" and considered them "felicitous verse" which was "well suited to the unsophisticated, assimilative, and wholesome minds of children".