Tom Curtain was born on 30 January 1979 in Mildura, Victoria. He was one year old when his family returned to his mother's family property Old Boyneside, Kumbia near Kingaroy in Southeast Queensland. Ever since it has been home to him, his parents Peter and Moira and his four brothers, James, Patrick, Laurence and Carl. He spent his primary schooling at Kumbia State School and then completed his secondary education as a boarder at Marist College, Ashgrove, Brisbane.