Hart was born in Merredin, Western Australia in 1944, and grew up on a rural property where his mother and father owned a general store. His early life was spent in the country, tractor harvesting and playing a wide range of sports. Upon graduation from Merredin high school, Hart's initial ambition was to be a journalist, and he applied for a cadetship at The West Australian.
Hart was born in Merredin, Western Australia in 1944, and spent his youth on a rural property where his parents operated a general store. He engaged in farming with a tractor and played various sports. After graduating from high school, Hart's ambition was to become a journalist by applying for an apprenticeship at The West Australian.