In Australia, as well as publishing books with his wife, he became deputy editor of The Australian newspaper and columnist for Australian Outlook.
Although he had been fighting battles with his health, including becoming legally blind, he had sent a short biography into the Australian Institute of International Affairs just recently.
According to reports, he had written how he started his career as economics correspondent for the BBC back in 1974, outlining how he came to have a deep-rooted interest in economics.
The AIIA, in a statement announcing Chapman's death, wrote: "Colin was ... an erudite and careful thinker whose insights will be deeply missed."
Our sympathies are to Colin's wife and family at this time. I hope they are encouraged to know that, nearly 40 years on, his legacy is thriving in our corner of financial journalism as the award-winning digital publication, FT Adviser.
This story will be updated throughout today (October 23) to incorporate additional tributes as they come in
