2003 in Australian literature

none October 2014 December 2019 This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 2003. Events Peter Carey and Joan London join the list of authors who have withdrawn from contention for the Tasmania Pacific Region Prize. In 2002 Richard Flanagan and Tim Winton also declined to have their books nominated for the prize in protest at the involvement of Forestry Tasmania as a sponsor of the Ten Days on the Island festival at which the award winner is to be announced.Austlit Gateway News March/April 2003 Members of The Australian Society of Authors (ASA) voted in their Society's 40th anniversary poll to select Australia's favourite book. Tim Winton's Cloudstreet headed the poll followed by The Man Who Loved Children by Christina Stead and The Fortunes of Richard Mahony by Henry Handel Richardson.Austlit Gateway News July/August 2003 Nevil Shute's 1950 novel, A Town Like Alice was included in a BBC-sponsored UK survey of 100 popular novels, but has failed to make a similar Australian list.Austlit Gateway News September/October 2003 Major publications Literary fiction Alan Atwood – Burke's Soldier Burke's Soldier by Alan Atwood National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/827225 22 May 2024 Peter Carey – My Life as a Fake Brian Castro – Shanghai Dancing J. M. Coetzee – Elizabeth Costello Julian Davies – The Boy The Boy by Julian Davies National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2612576 22 May 2024 Nikki Gemmell – The Bride Stripped Bare Peter Goldsworthy – Three Dog Night Shirley Hazzard – The Great Fire Kathryn Heyman – The Accomplice Austlit — The Accomplice by Kathryn Heyman Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C469330 22 May 2024 Janette Turner Hospital – Due Preparations for the Plague M. J. Hyland – How the Light Gets In How the Light Gets In by M. J. Hyland National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/7286883 22 May 2024 Annamarie Jagose – Slow Water Nada A. Jarrar – Somewhere, Home Somewhere, Home by Nada Awar Jarrar National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3092186 22 May 2024 Tom Keneally – The Tyrant's Novel Kathy Lette – Dead Sexy Dead Sexy by Kathy Lette National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3079253 22 May 2024 Colleen McCullough – The Touch Nerida Newton – The Lambing Flat Elliot Perlman – Seven Types of Ambiguity D. B. C. Pierre – Vernon God Little Patricia Shaw – The Five Winds Austlit — The Five Winds by Patricia Shaw Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C498473 22 May 2024 Sue Woolfe – The Secret Cure The Secret Cure by Sue Woolfe National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2568913 22 May 2024 Children's and Young Adult fiction Pamela Allen – Cuthbert's Babies Paul Collins – The Earthborn The Earthborn by Paul Collins National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/899100 17 November 2024 Kate Constable – The Waterless Sea Marianne Curley – The Dark The Dark by Marianne Curley Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C508456 17 November 2024 Justin D'Ath – Shaedow Master Shaedow Master by Justin D'Ath National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2611633 17 November 2024 Garry Disher – Eva's Angel Eva's Angel by Garry Disher National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2492134 17 November 2024 John Heffernan – GBH GBH by John Heffernan National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3120072 17 November 2024 Melina Marchetta – Saving Francesca Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2347322 17 November 2024 David Metzenthen – Boys of Blood & Bone Boys of Blood & Bone by David Metzenthen National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/905196 17 November 2024 Jaclyn Moriarty – Finding Cassie Crazy Finding Cassie Crazy by Jaclyn Moriarty National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2603770 17 November 2024 Martine Murray – How to Make a Bird Garth Nix Abhorsen Mister Monday Emily Rodda – Rowan of the Bukshah Janeen Webb – The Silken Road to Samarkand The Silken Road to Samarkand by Janeen Webb National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/.\1015242 17 November 2024 Crime Kirsty Brooks – The Vodka Dialogue The Vodka Dialogue by Kirsty Brooks National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1021815 17 December 2024 Ian Callinan – Appointment at Amalfi Appointment at Amalfi by Ian Callinan National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1097976 17 December 2024 Lindy Cameron – Thicker Than Water Jon Cleary – Degrees of Connection Peter Corris – Master's Mates Master's Mates by Peter Corris National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1012121 17 December 2024 Michelle de Kretser – The Hamilton Case Garry Disher – Kittyhawk Down Kittyhawk Down by Garry Disher National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/845070 17 December 2024 Kerry Greenwood – The Castlemaine Murders: A Phryne Fisher Mystery The Castlemaine Murders by Kerry Greenwood National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/941724 17 December 2024 Wayne Grogan – Junkie Pilgrim Junkie Pilgrim by Wayne Grogan National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2579565 17 December 2024 Gabrielle Lord – Lethal Factor Lethal Factor by Gabrielle Lord National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2633305 17 December 2024 Barry Maitland – The Verge Practice The Verge Practice by Barry Maitland National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1036779 17 December 2024 Matthew Reilly – Scarecrow Gregory David Roberts – Shantaram Michael Robotham – The Suspect The Suspect by Michael Robotham National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3093591 17 December 2024 Steve J. Spears – Murder at the Fortnight Murder at the Fortnight by Steve J. Spears National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2636880 17 December 2024 Peter Temple – White Dog Lee Tulloch – The Cutting: A Nullin Mystery The Cutting by Lee Tulloch National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/963542 17 December 2024 Robin Wallace-Crabbe – The Forger The Forger by Robin Wallace-Crabbe National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2565847 17 December 2024 Romance Ally Blake – The Wedding Wish The Wedding Wish by Ally Blake National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/7050226 23 December 2024 Lucy Clark – Englishman at Dingo Creek Englishman at Dingo Creek by Lucy Clark Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C511095 23 December 2024 Barbara Hannay – A Wedding at Windaroo A Wedding at Windaroo by Barbara Hannay National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3104342 23 December 2024 Stephanie Laurens – A Gentleman's Honor A Gentleman's Honor by Stephanie Laurens Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C528310 23 December 2024 Di Morrissey – Barra Creek Barra Creek by Di Morrissey National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2612696 23 December 2024 Candice R. Proctor – Beyond Sunrise Beyond Sunrise by Candice R. Proctor National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4465649 23 December 2024 Meredith Webber – Outback Encounter Outback Encounter by Meredith Webber National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3068691 23 December 2024 Science Fiction and Fantasy Max Barry – Jennifer Government K. A. Bedford – Orbital Burn Orbital Burn by K. A. Bedford ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?183948 26 May 2024 K. J. Bishop – The Etched City Russell Blackford – An Evil Hour An Evil Hour by Russell Blackford ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?24054 26 May 2024 Trudi Canavan – The High Lord The High Lord by Trudi Canavan ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?31695 26 May 2024 Bill Congreve – Southern Blood: New Australian Tales of the Supernatural Marianne Curley – The Dark Cecilia Dart-Thornton – The Battle of Evernight Sara Douglass – God's Concubine God's Concubine by Sara Douglass ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?839245 26 May 2024 Jennifer Fallon Eye of the Labyrinth Lord of the Shadows Lord of the Shadows by Jennifer Fallon ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?151883 26 May 2024 Lian Hearn – Grass for His Pillow Ian Irvine – Terminator Gene Victor Kelleher – Born of the Sea Born of the Sea by Victor Kelleher ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?825074 26 May 2024 Glenda Larke – The Aware The Aware by Glenda Larke ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?158055 26 May 2024 Fiona McIntosh – Myrren's Gift Myrren's Gift by Fiona McIntosh ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?157306 26 May 2024 Anthony O'Neill – The Lamplighter The Lamplighter by Anthony O'Neill ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?849667 26 May 2024 Kate Orman – Blue Box Blue Box by Kate Orman ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?382391 26 May 2024 Tony Shillitoe – Freedom Freedom by Tony Shillitoe ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?823269 26 May 2024 Kim Wilkins – The Autumn Castle The Autumn Castle by Kim Wilkins ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?157229 26 May 2024 Sean Williams and Shane Dix – Heirs of Earth Heirs of Earth by Sean Williams & Shane Dix ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?28968 26 May 2024 Drama Mireille Juchau – White Gifts White Gifts by Mireille Juchau Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C476455 28 December 2024 Hannie Rayson – Inheritance Inheritance by Hannie Rayson National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2239444 28 December 2024 Henri Szeps – One Life, Two Journeys One Life, Two Journeys by Henri Szeps National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3050498 28 December 2024 David Williamson – Birthrights Birthrights by David Williamson Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C449331 28 December 2024 Poetry Judith Beveridge – Wolf Notes Wolf Notes by Judith Beveridge National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4512240 28 December 2024 Laurie Duggan – Mangroves Stephen Edgar – Lost in the Foreground Lost in the Foreground by Stephen Edgar National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4939605 28 December 2024 Brook Emery — Misplaced Heart"Misplaced heart : poems / Brook Emery", National Library of Australia. Clive James – The Book of My Enemy : Collected Verse, 1958–2003 The Book of My Enemy : Collected Verse, 1958–2003 by Clive James National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3305570 28 December 2024 John Kinsella – Peripheral Light Peripheral Light by John Kinsella National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2622916 28 December 2024 Non-fiction Fiona Capp – That Oceanic Feeling That Oceanic Feeling by Fiona Capp National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1090982 28 December 2024 Inga Clendinnen – Dancing with Strangers Dancing with Strangers by Inga Clendinnen National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2612615 28 December 2024 Patricia Crawford and Ian Crawford – Contested Country: A History of the Northcliffe Area Contested Country: A History of the Northcliffe Area by Patricia Crawford and Ian Crawford National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1111751 28 December 2024 David Hollinsworth – They Took the Children They Took the Children by David Hollinsworth National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3069276 28 December 2024 Stuart Macintyre and Anna Clark – The History Wars The History Wars by Stuart Macintyre and Anna Clark National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2555981 28 December 2024 David Marr & Marian Wilkinson – Dark Victory Peter Robb – A Death in Brazil A Death in Brazil by Peter Robb National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2634019 28 December 2024 Biographies Graeme Blundell – King: The Life and Comedy of Graham Kennedy King: The Life and Comedy of Graham Kennedy by Graeme Blundell National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2607871 20 February 2025 Lorraine Day – Gordon of Dingley Dell: The Life of Adam Lindsay Gordon (1833–1870): Poet and Horseman Gordon of Dingley Dell: The Life of Adam Lindsay Gordon (1833–1870) by Lorraine Day National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3067171 20 February 2025 Edward Duyker – Citizen Labillardiere: A Naturalist's Life in Revolution and Exploration (1755–1834) Citizen Labillardiere: A Naturalist's Life in Revolution and Exploration (1755–1834) by Edward Duyker National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/858400 20 February 2025 Greg Growden – The Snowy Baker Story The Snowy Baker Story by Greg Growden National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3048320 20 February 2025 Tom Keneally – Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln by Tom Keneally National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2398303 20 February 2025 Jonathan King – Gallipoli: Our Last Man Standing: The Extraordinary Life of Alec Campbell Gallipoli: Our Last Man Standing: The Extraordinary Life of Alec Campbell by Jonathan King National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2371448 20 February 2025 Garry Linnell – Playing God: The Rise and Fall of Gary Ablett Playing God: The Rise and Fall of Gary Ablett by Garry Linnell National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2460245 20 February 2025 Peter Singer – Pushing Time Away: My Grandfather and the Tragedy of Jewish Vienna Pushing Time Away: My Grandfather and the Tragedy of Jewish Vienna by Peter Singer National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/678173 20 February 2025 Nicholas Thomas – Discoveries: The Voyages of Captain Cook Discoveries: The Voyages of Captain Cook by Nicholas Thomas National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1121057 20 February 2025 Anne Whitehead – Bluestocking in Patagonia Bluestocking in Patagonia by Anne Whitehead National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/995440 20 February 2025 Awards and honours Note: these awards were presented in the year in question. Lifetime achievement Award Author Christopher Brennan AwardAustlit — FAW Christopher Brennan Award Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v539?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents&from=6&count=3 11 September 2023 Philip Salom Patrick White Award Austlit — Patrick White Award - Past Winners Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v617?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents 10 September 2023 22 August 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230822040912/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v617?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents dead Janette Turner Hospital Literary Award Author Title Publisher The Age Book of the Year Award"No need for a 'real job' after book wins prize" The Age, 22 August 2003, p3 https://www.proquest.com/docview/363610086 15 July 2024 363610086 Sonya Hartnett Of a Boy 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/ 13 January 2024 Kate Jennings Moral Hazard Picador Colin Roderick Award Colin Roderick Award — Other Winners 13 July 2020 James Cook University https://www.jcu.edu.au/foundation-for-australian-literary-studies/roderick-award/previous-winners2 16 January 2024 Tom Keneally The Tyrant's Novel Doubleday Nita Kibble Literary AwardKibble Literary Award Australian National University https://history.cass.anu.edu.au/centres/ncb/kibble-literary-award 26 February 2024 Gail Jones Black Mirror Picador 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 18 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 Sonya Hartnett Of a Boy Viking Books 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 Not awarded The Age Book of the Year Award Sonya Hartnett Of a Boy Viking BooksThe Australian/Vogel Literary Award"Austlit – Australian/Vogel Award 2003-2005" Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v385?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents&from=15&count=3 19 February 2024 Nicholas Angel Drown Them in the Sea Allen and Unwin Ruth Balint Troubled Waters Allen and Unwin Miles Franklin Award Austlit — Miles Franklin Literary Award (1957-) Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v254 21 September 2023 7 November 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231107080036/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v254 dead Alex Miller Journey to the Stone Country Allen & Unwin New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards"Top prize for tough little book" 20 May 2003 Sydney Morning Herald, 20 May 2003 https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/top-prize-for-tough-little-book-20030520-gdgshc.html 16 January 2025 Kate Jennings Moral Hazard Fourth Estate Queensland Premier's Literary Awards"Queensland Premier's Literary Awards - Previous Winners" Queensland Government http://www.qld.gov.au/about/events-awards-honours/awards/literary-awards/past-winners/ https://web.archive.org/web/20120717073830/http://www.qld.gov.au/about/events-awards-honours/awards/literary-awards/past-winners/ 13 May 2025 17 July 2012 Janette Turner Hospital Due Preparations for the Plague HarperCollins Victorian Premier's Literary Award"The Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction: Winner 2003" State Library of Victoria http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/programs/literary/pla/vpprize/winner2003.html https://web.archive.org/web/20080812170841/http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/programs/literary/pla/vpprize/winner2003.html 7 February 2025 12 August 2008 Brian Castro Shanghai Dancing Giramondo Publishing Western 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 23 May 2025 Brett D'Arcy The Mindless Ferocity of Sharks Vintage Books Children and Young Adult National Award Category Author Title PublisherChildren's Book of the Year Award Older Readers Markus Zusak The Messenger Macmillan Publishers Younger Readers Catherine Bateson Rain May and Captain Daniel University of Queensland Press Picture Book Norman Jorgensen, illus. Brian Harrison-Lever In Flanders Fields Fremantle Arts Centre Press Early Childhood Penny Matthews, illus. Andrew McLean A Year on Our Farm Omnibus BooksNew South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Children's Simon French Where in the World Little Hare Books Young People's Markus Zusak The Messenger Macmillan PublishersQueensland Premier's Literary Awards Children's Catherine Bateson Rain May and Captain Daniel University of Queensland Press Young Adult David Metzenthen Boys of Blood and Bone Penguin Books Victorian Premier's Literary Award Young Adult Fiction Margo Lanagan Black Juice Allen & UnwinWestern Australian Premier's Book Awards Writing for Young Adults Colin Bowles Nights in the Sun Penguin Books Children's Mark Greenwood The Legend of Lasseter's Reef Cygnet Books Crime and Mystery National Award Category Author Title PublisherDavitt Award"LibraryThing: Davitt Awards 2003" LibraryThing https://www.librarything.com/award/2525.0.0.2003/Davitt-Award-2003 19 January 2024"Davitt Award Winners 2001-2023" Sisters in Crime, Australia (www.sistersincrime.org.au) https://sistersincrime.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Davitt-Winners_cumulative-table_2025.pdf 28 November 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20251128232054/https://sistersincrime.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Davitt-Winners_cumulative-table_2025.pdf 28 November 2025 bot: unknown dmyNovel Gabrielle Lord Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing Hodder Headline Australia Alex Palmer Blood Redemption HarperCollins Readers' Choice Cathy Cole Skin Deep Duffy and Snellgrove Young Adult Novel Natalie Jane Prior Fireworks and Darkness Angus & RobertsonNed Kelly Award2003 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/9 2016-03-27 19 January 2024 Australian Crime Writers Novel Peter Temple White Dog Text Publishing First novel Alex Palmer Blood Redemption HarperCollins True crime Peter Lalor Blood Stain Allen & Unwin Lifetime Achievement Kerry Greenwood Science fiction Award Category Author Title PublisherAurealis Award Sf Novel Jonathan Blum and Kate Orman Fallen Gods Telos Publishing Sf Short Story Brendan Duffy "Louder Echo" Agog! Terrific Tales Fantasy Novel Garth Nix Abhorsen Allen and Unwin Fantasy Short Story Lucy Sussex "La Sentinelle" Southern Blood: New Australian Tales of the Supernatural Horror Novel Victor Kelleher Born of the Sea Viking Books Horror Short Story Simon Brown "Love is a Stone" Gathering the BonesYoung Adult Novel Garth Nix Abhorsen Allen and Unwin Carole Wilkinson Dragonkeeper Black Dog BooksDitmar Award Novel Sean Williams and Shane Dix Echoes of Earth HarperCollins Short Fiction Deborah Biancotti "King of All and The Metal Sentinel" Agog! Fantastic Fiction Collected Work Cat Sparks ed. Agog! Fantastic Fiction Agog! Press Poetry Award Author Title Publisher Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature Not awarded The Age Book of the Year Laurie Duggan Mangroves University of Queensland PressAnne Elder Award Austlit — Anne Elder Award 2002-2004 Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v148?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents&from=18&count=3 13 February 2024 Chris Andrews Cut Lunch Indigo Kathryn Lomer Extraction of Arrows University of Queensland Press Grace Leven Prize for Poetry Austlit — Grace Leven Poetry Prize 2002-2004 Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v186?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents&from=6&count=3 13 February 2024 12 February 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240212222126/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v186?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents&from=6&count=3 dead Stephen Edgar Lost in the Foreground Duffy & Snellgrove Mary Gilmore PrizeMary Gilmore Award Association for the Study of Australian Literature https://www.asal.org.au/awards/mary-gilmore-award/ 13 February 2024 Not awarded New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Jill Jones Screens Jets Heaven: New and Selected Poems Salt Publishing Victorian Premier's Literary Award Emma Lew Anything the Landlord Touches Giramondo Publishing Western Australian Premier's Book Awards John Kinsella Peripheral Light Fremantle Arts Centre Press Drama Award Author Title Publisher Patrick White Playwrights' Award"Patrick White Playwrights' Award – Past Winners" Sydney Theatre Company https://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/about/information-for-artists/patrick-white-playwrights-award-and-fellowship/past-winners 25 December 2025 David Milroy and Ningali Lawford Windmill Baby Currency Press Non-Fiction Award Category Author Title Publisher Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature Non-Fiction Not awarded The Age Book of the Year Non-Fiction Ann Galbally Charles Condor: The Last Bohemian Miegunyah PressNational Biography Award"National Biography Award – Past Winners" 21 May 2020 State Library of NSW https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/awards/national-biography-award?page=2 1 August 2024 Biography Peter Rose Rose Boys Allen & Unwin Don Watson Recollections of a Bleeding Heart : a Portrait of Paul Keating PM Random House New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Non-Fiction Mark McKenna Looking for Blackfellas' Point: An Australian History of Place University of New South Wales PressNew South Wales Premier's History Awards Australian History James Bowen and Margarita Bowen The Great Barrier Reef: History, Science,Heritage Cambridge University Press Community and Regional History Erik Eklund Steel Town: The Making and Breaking of Port Kembla Melbourne University Press General History David Garrioch The Making of Revolutionary Paris University of California Press Young People's Alan Tucker My Story: The Bombing of Darwin, The Diary of Tom Taylor Scholastic PressQueensland Premier's Literary Awards Non-fiction Margaret Simons Meeting of the Waters Hachette Australia HistoryRichard Bosworth Mussolini Oxford University Press Victorian Premier's Literary Award Non-fiction Barry Hill Broken Song: T.G.H. Strehlow and Aboriginal Possession Knopf Deaths 16 March – Susan McGowan, poet (born 1907 in Edinburgh, Scotland) Susan McGowan (1907–2003) Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A12122 9 January 2025 18 March – Julie Lewis, short story writer (born 1925) Julie Lewis (1925–2003) Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A29100 9 January 2025 30 March – Nick Enright, playwright and screenwriter (born 1950)Nick Enright (1950–2003) https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A20517 19 February 2024 AustLit: Discover Australian Stories The University of Queensland 2 April – Joan Phipson, writer for children and young adults (born 1912) Joan Phipson (1912–2003) Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A24341 9 January 2025 20 April – Bill Wannan, editor (born 1915) Bill Wannan (1915–2003) Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A23297 9 January 2025 1 May – Stephen Estaban Kelen, dramatist (born 1912 in Budapest, Hungary) Stephen Kelen (1912–2003) Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A31197 9 January 2025 5 June 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190605061527/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A31197 dead 28 June – Clem Christesen, poet and founding editor of Meanjin (born 1911) Clem Christesen (1911–1999) Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A4621 23 November 2023 30 June – Oriel Gray, playwright and screenwriter (born 1920) Oriel Gray (1920–2003) Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A10651 9 January 2025 23 November – Hesba Brinsmead, writer for children (born 1922) Hesba Brinsmead (1922–2003) Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A35558 9 January 2025 See also 2003 in Australia 2003 in literature 2003 in poetry List of years in literature List of years in Australian literature References Note: all references relating to awards can, or should be, found on the relevant award's page. Category:Australian literature by year Literature Category:21st-century Australian literature Category:2003 in literature