1996 in Australian literature

none December 2019 December 2019 This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1996. Events Christopher Koch won the Miles Franklin Award for Highways to a War David Malouf won the International Dublin Literary Award for Remembering Babylon The Ned Kelly Awards, honouring excellence in Australian crime writing, are presented for the first time Major publications Novels Thea Astley — The Multiple Effects of Rainshadow James Cowan — A Mapmaker's Dream Robert Dessaix — Night Letters: A Journey Through Switzerland and Italy Edited and Annotated by Igor Miazmov Night Letters by Robert Dessaix National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2629049 22 January 2025 Garry Disher — The Sunken Road The Sunken Road by Garry Disher National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1145200 22 January 2025 Robert Drewe — The Drowner David Foster — The Glade Within the Grove Clive James — The Silver Castle The Silver Castle by Clive James National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2781630 22 January 2025 David Malouf — The Conversations at Curlow Creek John A. Scott — Before I Wake Janette Turner Hospital — Oyster Morris West — Vanishing Point Sue Woolfe — Leaning Towards Infinity Short story anthologies Kerryn Goldsworthy — Australian Love Stories (edited) Australian Love Stories by Kerryn Goldsworthy National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1297773 10 May 2024 Science fiction and fantasy Russell Blackford – "The Sword of God" Sara Douglass Enchanter StarMan Matthew Reilly — Contest Contest by Matthew Reilly ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?784033 8 May 2024 Jane Routley — Mage Heart Mage Heart by Jane Routley ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?7197 8 May 2024 Dirk Strasser — Equinox Equinox by Dirk Strasser ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?8858 8 May 2024 Lucy Sussex — The Scarlet Rider The Scarlet Rider by Lucy Sussex ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?7267 8 May 2024 Sean Williams Metal Fatigue "Passing the Bone" "Passing the Bone" by Sean Williams ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?52366 5 February 2026 Crime Jon Cleary – Endpeace Peter Doyle – Get Rich Quick Shane Maloney – The Brush-Off Peter Temple – Bad Debts Children's and young adult fiction Hilary Bell — Mirror, Mirror Isobelle Carmody – Green Monkey Dreams Margaret Clark — Fat Chance Sonya Hartnett — Black Foxes Black Foxes by Sonya Hartnett National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1160912 10 May 2024 Kerry Greenwood — The Broken Wheel John Marsden — Checkers James Moloney — A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove Poetry Eric Beach — Weeping for Lost Babylon Lisa Bellear — Dreaming in Urban Areas Dreaming in Urban Areas by Lisa Bellear National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2671555 10 May 2024 Judith Beveridge — Accidental Grace Accidental Grace by Judith Beveridge National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2701448 10 May 2024 John Kinsella — The Undertow: New and Selected Poems The Undertow: New and Selected Poems by John Kinsella National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/128707 10 May 2024 Anthony Lawrence — The Viewfinder Les Murray — Subhuman Redneck Poems Dorothy Porter — Crete Crete by Dorothy Porter National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2499038 10 May 2024 Morgan Yasbincek — Night Reversing Drama Nick Enright — Blackrock Jenny Kemp — The Black Sequin Dress Debra Oswald — Gary's House Gary's House by Debra Oswald National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2514224 10 May 2024 David Williamson — Heretic Non-fiction Bronwyn Donaghy — Anna's Story Anna's Story by Bronwyn Donaghy National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2574713 10 May 2024 Doris Pilkington Garimara — Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence Helen Garner — True Stories: Selected Non-Fiction Awards and honours Mavis Thorpe Clark AUS AM "for service to the arts as the author of children's literature and as an active member of the writer's organisations in Australia"https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/869945 Mavis Thorpe Clark honours.pmc.gov.au live https://web.archive.org/web/20191227040806/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/869945 27 December 2019 2019-12-27 Susanna de Vries AUS AM "for service to art as an author and lecturer in Australian and European art history and history"https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/870193 Susanna Mary de Vries-Evans honours.pmc.gov.au live https://web.archive.org/web/20191227040809/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/870193 27 December 2019 2019-12-27 Christobel Mattingley AUS AM "for service to literature, particularly children's literature, and for community service through her commitment to social and cultural issues"https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/869829 Christobel Rosemary Mattingley honours.pmc.gov.au live https://web.archive.org/web/20190603115827/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/869829 3 June 2019 2019-12-27 Lifetime achievement Award Author Christopher Brennan Award Austlit — FAW Christopher Brennan Award Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v539?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents&from=9&count=3 12 September 2023 Dorothy Hewett Patrick White Award Austlit — Patrick White Award - Past Winners Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v617?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents 8 September 2023 22 August 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230822040912/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v617?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents dead Elizabeth Harrower Literary Award Author Title Publisher The Age Book of the Year Award"Literary award for Astley" The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 December 1996, p4 https://www.proquest.com/docview/2527334841 16 June 2024 2527334841 Thea Astley The Multiple Effects of Rainshadow Viking ALS Gold Medal ALS Gold Medal — Previous Winners Association for the Study of Australian Literature https://www.asal.org.au/awards/als-gold-medal/ 10 January 2024 Amanda Lohrey Camille's Bread Angus and Robertson Colin Roderick Award Colin Roderick Award - Other Winners James Cook University https://www.jcu.edu.au/foundation-for-australian-literary-studies/roderick-award/previous-winners2 16 January 2024 Tim Flannery, Roger Martin and Alexandra Szalay,Illustrator Peter Schouten Tree Kangaroos Reed Publications Nita Kibble Literary Award 2009-06-09 Kibble Literary Award https://history.cass.anu.edu.au/centres/ncb/kibble-literary-award 4 February 2024 Australian National University en-AU Judy Cassab Judy Cassab: Diaries Random House Fiction International Award Category Author Title Publisher Commonwealth Writers' Prize Commonwealth Writers' Prize Regional Winners 1987-2007 Commonwealth Foundation http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/uploads/documents/Regional%20Winners%201987-20071.pdf 17 January 2024 23 October 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071023223729/http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/uploads/documents/Regional%20Winners%201987-20071.pdf dead Best Novel, SE Asia and South Pacific region Gillian Mears The Grass Sister Random House National Award Author Title Publisher Adelaide Festival Awards for LiteratureState Library of South Australia https://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/past-literary-award-winners Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature – Past Literary Award Winners 18 April 2024 9 March 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260309180911/https://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/past-literary-award-winners dead Richard Flanagan Death of a River Guide McPhee Gribble The Age Book of the Year Award Thea Astley The Multiple Effects of Rainshadow Viking Press The Australian/Vogel Literary Award Austlit — The Australian/Vogel National Literary Award 1996 Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v385?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents&from=24&count=3 16 February 2023 Bernard Cohen The Blindman's Hat Allen and Unwin Kathleen Mitchell Award Austlit — Kathleen Mitchell Literary Award Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v225 7 August 2025 Sonya Hartnett Sleeping Dogs Viking Books Miles Franklin Award Austlit — Highways to a War - Awards Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C218327?mainTabTemplate=workAwards 15 September 2023 Christopher Koch Highways to a War Heinemann New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards"Tales of antiquarian hunters collects top book award" Sydney Morning Herald, 6 September 1996 https://www.proquest.com/docview/363360979 8 May 2024 363360979 Sue Woolfe Leaning Towards Infinity Random House Australia Victorian Premier's Literary Awards"Motherhood, love and food dazzle judges" Sydney Morning Herald, 19 October 1996, p8 https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/october-19-1996-page-8-288/docview/2527878441/se-2 12 January 2025 Amanda Lohrey Camille's Bread Angus and RobertsonWestern Australian Premier's Book Awards"Australian Literary Awards: Western Australian Premier's" University Libraries, University of Washington https://guides.lib.uw.edu/c.php?g=341672&p=2299464 19 March 2025 Heather Grace The Lighthouse Spark Fremantle Arts Centre Press Dave Warner City of Light Fremantle Arts Centre Press Crime and Mystery National Award Category Author Title PublisherNed Kelly Award1996 Ned Kelly Award Winners http://www.austcrimewriters.com/ned-kelly-award-winners/1 https://web.archive.org/web/20160327181222/http://www.austcrimewriters.com/ned-kelly-award-winners/1 2016-03-27 14 January 2024 Australian Crime WritersNovel Barry Maitland The Malcontenta Hamish Hamilton Paul Thomas Inside Dope Mandarin Publishing First novel John Dale Dark Angel Serpent's Tail Lifetime Achievement Jon Cleary Children and Young Adult Award Category Author Title Publisher Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature Children's John Marsden The Third Day, the Frost Pan MacMillanChildren's Book of the Year Award"CBCA - Previous Winners - 1946 Onwards" CBCA https://cbca.blob.core.windows.net/documents/National/CBCA%20Awards%201946%20on.pdf 25 August 2025 Older Readers Catherine Jinks Pagan's Vows Omnibus Books Picture Book Narelle Oliver The Hunt Lothian New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Young People's Literature David Metzenthen Johnny Hart's Heroes Penguin Books Australia Victorian Premier's Prize for Young Adult Fiction Sonya Hartnett Sleeping Dogs Viking Books Western Australian Premier's Book Awards Children's and YA Helen Bell Idjhil University of Western Australia Press Science fiction and fantasy Award Category Author Title PublisherAurealis Award "Aurealis Awards 1996" SFADB https://www.sfadb.com/Aurealis_Awards_1996 7 August 2025 Sf Novel Greg Egan Distress Millenium Sf Short Story Greg Egan "Luminous" Isaac Asimov's SF Magazine Sept 1995 Fantasy Novel Garth Nix Sabriel Moonstone/HarperCollins Publishers Fantasy Short Story Karen Attard "Harvest Bay" Eidolon #19 Spring 1995 Horror Novel Terry Dowling An Intimate Knowledge of the Night Aphelion Horror Short Story Francis Payne "Olympia" Bambada PressYoung Adult Novel Brian Caswell Deucalion University of Queensland Press Garth Nix Sabriel Moonstone/HarperCollins Publishers Young Adult Short Story Not awarded Australian SF Achievement Award "Ditmar Awards 1996" SFADB https://www.sfadb.com/Ditmar_Awards_1996 7 August 2025 Best Australian Long Fiction Sean McMullen Mirrorsun Rising Aphelion Best Australian Short Fiction Ian Gunn "Schrödinger's Fridge" Aurealis #15 Poetry Award Author Title Publisher Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature John Kinsella The Silo: A Pastoral Symphony Fremantle Arts Centre Press The Age Book of the Year Award Eric Beach Weeping for Lost Babylon Angus and Robertson Anne Elder Award Austlit — Anne Elder Award 1995-97 Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v148?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents&from=24&count=3 12 February 2024 Marcella Polain Dumbstruck Five Islands Press Grace Leven Prize for Poetry Austlit — Grace Leven Poetry Prize 1994-2001 Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v186?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents&from=9&count=3 12 February 2024 John Kinsella The Undertow : New and Selected Poems Arc Publications Mary Gilmore AwardMary Gilmore Award Association for the Study of Australian Literature https://www.asal.org.au/awards/mary-gilmore-award/ 10 February 2024 Jordie Albiston Nervous Arcs Spinfex PressNew South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Eric Beach Weeping for Lost Babylon HarperCollins Publishers J. S. Harry Selected Poems Penguin Books Australia Victorian Premier's Literary Awards Peter Bakowski In the Human Night Hale and Iremonger Western Australian Premier's Book Awards Dorothy Hewett Collected Poems Fremantle Arts Centre Press Drama Award Category Author TitleNew South Wales Premier's Literary Awards FilmScript Ian David Blue MurderPlay John Misto The Shoe-Horn Sonata Victorian Premier's Literary Awards Drama Joanna Murray-Smith Honour Non-fiction Award Category Author Title Publisher Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature Non-Fiction Tim Flannery The Future Eaters Reed Books The Age Book of the Year Award Non-Fiction Geoffrey Serle Robin Boyd : A Life Miegunyah PressNational Biography Award"National Biography Award – Past Winners" State Library of NSW https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/awards/national-biography-award?page=2 22 March 2024 Biography Abraham Biderman The World of My Past AHB Publications New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Non-Fiction Tom Griffiths Hunters and Collectors: The Antiquarian Imagination in Australia Cambridge University Press Victorian Premier's Literary Awards Non-Fiction Tom Griffiths Hunters and Collectors: The Antiquarian Imagination in Australia Cambridge University Press Deaths A list, ordered by date of death (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of deaths in 1996 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth. 12 February — Betty Roland, writer of plays, screenplays, novels, children's books and comics (born 1903) Roland, Betty (1903–1996) by Jayne Regan Australian Dictionary of Biography https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/roland-betty-27186 30 June 2023 26 March — Godfrey Blunden, journalist and author (died in Paris) (born 1906)Anderson Fay Godfrey Verge (Geof) Blunden (1906–1996) Australian Dictionary of Biography https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/blunden-godfrey-verge-geof-27611 2024-02-13 Canberra National Centre of Biography, Australian National University en 23 April — P. L. Travers, children's writer, best known for the Mary Poppins (book series) (born 1899) P. L. Travers (1899-1996) Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A10123 26 June 2023 28 April — Mena Calthorpe, writer (born 1905)Mena Calthorpe (1905-1996) https://localhistory.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/192180 2024-02-13 Local History - Sutherland Shire Libraries en 27 October — Charlotte Jay, mystery writer and novelist who also wrote under her married name, Geraldine Halls (born 1919)Geraldine Halls (1919-1996) https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A1842 2023-09-19 AustLit: Discover Australian Stories The University of Queensland 28 November — Hugh V. Clarke, soldier, public servant and author, specialising in military history (born 1919)Obituary - Hugh Vincent Clarke (1919-1996) - Obituaries Australia https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/clarke-hugh-vincent-1560 2023-09-23 oa.anu.edu.au 31 December — John Rowland, public servant, diplomat and poet (born 1925)J. R. Rowland (1925-1996) https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A28797 2023-09-26 AustLit: Discover Australian Stories The University of Queensland See also 1996 in Australia 1996 in literature 1996 in poetry List of years in literature List of years in Australian literature References Category:1996 in Australia Category:Australian literature by year Category:20th-century Australian literature Category:1996 in literature