William’s mother was born in Emerald, Central Queensland and is a descendant of the Bidjara tribe on her mother's side.

Aunty Delmae has a had a long life-journey of performance and a vast array of collaborative projects in regional Australia, at national arts centres in our capital cities as well as representing Australia on the international stage from Canada to UK, Italy, France and China.

William Barton, Delmae Barton and CHS Orchestra String Ensemble performing Birdsong at Dusk

Widely recognised as Australia's Dreamtime Opera Diva, Aunty Delmae's career highlights include:

  • The 2011 YouTube Symphony Orchestra "Jam Session concert" at the Basement in Sydney,

  • Special guest at the Una Notte Australiana (An Australian Night) held at the Vatican in Rome as a celebration of the Canonisation of Mary Mckillop and the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art works in the Vatican Museum.

  • Delmae recited a special poem and cultural and spiritual blessing in a private concert at the Conservatorium of Sydney in NSW in a special performance for Queen Sofia of Spain in 2009.

  • Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in China.

  • Performance at the inauguration of Lady Quentin Bryce as Governor General of Australia (Sept 2008)

  • Special guest at the Victorian University Wellington, New Zealand as part of a social science conference and in the latter half of 2007 Delmae performed at the Maori Ministry and the World Indigenous Higher Education Conference held in Waikato Hawaii as a delegate from Griffith University.

  • Guest artist at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music and Culture Centre in Townsville, and she also appeared as a special guest for son William Barton on the Australian Story ABC TV in 2007

  • Featured as a guest artist at the Pompidou Centre in Paris 2006 and in 2005 she was a resident at the International multimedia facility, Fabrica Musica in Treviso, Italy, collaborating with William and other musicians to present the Songlines project at the Naples Music Festival. Delmae's artwork was also used as a feature in the project with the music.

  • Guest workshop presenter in London in 2005, working with youth in the YESS program in association with the London Philharmonic Education program.

Delmae has been involved with a number of education faculties over the years and in 2005 was  appointed Elder in Residence at Griffith University in Brisbane as cultural advisor for students and members of Griffith University. Delmae is part of the Murri Court Justice system in Queensland and attends court hearings regularly in her capacity as elder in residence with Griffith University.

She has performed at numerous festivals and has collaborated with people from various music genres including with Sean O'Boyle for the Queensland Orchestra's education concerts in 2005, and for the Brisbane Energex River Festival's River Symphony in 2000, Millennium Eve Rhythm festival and televised world link up at Woodford Folk Festival in 99/00, Goanna Band reunion at the Melbourne International Festival of the Arts in 1998 and The International Cultural Festival, Laura - Cape York. During the 2004 Brisbane International Film Festival Delmae was a guest judge on the Interfaith jury panel for the films. She has also collaborated in prestigious performances with the Queensland Ballet Company for their International Gala at the Brisbane Optus Playhouse and on the Gold Coast.

A highlight of 2004 was the release of her album “Spirit Song” supported by fashion designer Liz Davenport at her Brisbane store. Liz Davenport also made a special creation for Delmae to wear at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Other performances and collaborations have included working with her son William Barton, concerts at the Canberra International Music Festival, Canberra Folk Festival and concerts with classical guitarist Anthony Garcia. In 2002 Delmae represented Australia and New Zealand as guest artist at the World Indigenous People Conference on Higher Education in Canada.

Delmae's past and present clothing sponsors have included, Liz Davenport and Dressed for Success and Toni Baker of Nutrimetics.