Rosalie Bonighton was born in Ballarat. She studied composition with Keith Humble, Ian Bonighton, Theodore Dollarhide and Lawrence Whiffin. She gained a Bachelor of Music from the University of Melbourne and completed her Master of Arts at La Trobe University in composition.

In 1967 Rosalie was awarded the Coutts Memorial prize for composition from the University of Melbourne. She has also won the national Song of Jubilee competition (1999) and in 1983 was co-winner of the national Competition for Liturgical Psalm-Setting.

Rosalie has been commissioned by many individuals and organisations, including the National Liturgical Music Convention (1992, 1995) and the University of Ballarat. She is employed as a 'house composer' by music publishers Kevin Mayhew, Ltd (UK), and has an extensive list of publications with them. She is also the organist of St. John's Anglican Church, Soldiers Hill, Ballarat.