Norfolk Is to farewell Colleen McCullough

Australian author Colleen McCullough will be farewelled on Norfolk Island.

Most of the island's 1600 residents are expected to turn out on Wednesday to farewell the best-selling writer, who died in hospital last week aged 77.

A funeral procession of family and friends will set off from the town of Burnt Pine shortly before 4pm bound for a graveside service at the cemetery.

Most of the community will greet the procession at the gates as is customary on the island, an island official said.

Local shops traditionally close at midday on Wednesdays, meaning most residents will be free to pay their respects.

Several sports have been cancelled out of respect, including golf on the course adjacent to the cemetery.

McCullough shot to fame in 1977 with her acclaimed novel The Thorn Birds, which sold more than 30 million copies.

Before that, she established a neurophysiology department at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital and spent 10 years as a researcher at Yale University in the US.

She moved to Norfolk Island more than 30 years ago, marrying local Ric Robinson.

Senator Zed Seselja will represent the Australian government at the service which is also expected to feature a dedication from the Australian Society of Authors.