Eunice Hanger was born on 8 March 1911 in Mount Chalmers, Queensland. She was educated at the University of Queensland, earning a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in English (1932) and a Master of Arts (1939). She joined the staff of the University of Queensland in 1955, and was a lecturer in the Department of English until her death in 1972. She edited several anthologies of Australian plays, and wrote numerous articles on Australian drama. She also acted in, produced and wrote many plays. She was active in the Twelfth Night Theatre. She also assembled a collection of unpublished Australian playscripts, now known as the Hanger Collection of Australian Playscripts.