Diana Lorking was born to Frances Howard and Lucy Mary Ann (nee Ehret) Lorking. Diana graduated from the University of Adelaide with an Arts Degree (1948-1952) and then completed a Diploma in Social Science, was awarded the Catherine Helen Spence scholarship in 1953 and a Master degree in Economics (majoring in sociology and criminology) from the London School of Economics in 1956.

Diana's parents were Frances Howard Lorking and Lucy Mary Ann Lorking (nee Ehret). Frances Howard Lorking was born on 10 November 1885 and was an Assistant Signal and Telegraph Engineer with the South Australian Railways from 1920s to 1950s. Diana is uncertain about the exact year of Frances Howard Lorking's death, though she believes it to be either 1958 or 1983. Lucy Mary Ann Lorking (nee Ehret), known as Ann, was born in 1895 and died on 10 March 1978. She was a Red Cross Nurse.

Daisy Bates came to live with the Lorkings when she became almost competely blind. According to Diana the government was uncertain with what to do with Daisy Bates, so she lived in a part of the Lorkings family home, which had been converted into into a home for those who were unwell by Diana's mother. She stayed with the Lorkings for many months in 1948 before being placed in a nursing home.

At that time the Lorkings residence was at 29 Glenburnie Ave Torrens Park, where the Lorking family lived from 1928 to 1970.

See AA 23 for the South Australian Museum Daisy Bates collection and items in the Dr William Delano Walker collection, AA 357.