The 77 Greatest Works of Australian Literature
This selection of literature from Australia is based on the continuing research carried out for The Greatest Literature of All Time list and is additionally informed by the views of local readers, writers, critics and scholars.
It encompasses the greatest works of Australian authors in all forms, genres, cultures and periods.
This list focuses on major creative works—such as novels, plays, epic poetry and story collections—although some shorter or nonfiction writing of literary significance may also be included.
Latest update: December 23, 2023
1882
Robbery Under Arms
by Rolf Boldrewood, Australia
Novel
1886
The Mystery of a Hansom Cab
by Fergus W. Hume, Australia
Novel
1894
Seven Little Australians
by Ethel Turner, Australia
Novel
1901
My Brilliant Career
by Miles Franklin, Australia
Novel
1917–1929
The Fortunes Of Richard Mahony
by Henry Handel Richardson, Australia
Novel series
1918
The Magic Pudding
by Norman Lindsay, Australia
Novel
1931
The Sands of Windee
by Arthur Upfield, Australia
Novel
1938
The Bone Is Pointed
by Arthur Upfield, Australia
Novel
1940
The Man Who Loved Children
by Christina Stead, Australia
Novel
1949
Woman to Child
by Judith Wright, Australia
Poetry collection
1952
Beat Not the Bones
by Charlotte Jay, Australia
Novel
1955
The Tree of Man
by Patrick White, Australia
Novel
1957
Voss
by Patrick White, Australia
Novel
1958
To the Islands
by Randolph Stow, Australia
Novel
1959
The Big Fellow
by Vance Palmer, Australia
Novel
1960
The Urishman
by Elizabeth O'Connor, Australia
Novel
1961
Riders in the Chariot
by Patrick White, Australia
Novel
1962
The Well Dressed Explorer
by Thea Astley, Australia
Novel
The Cupboard Under the Stairs
by George Turner, Australia
Novel
1963
Careful, He Might Hear You
by Sumner Locke Elliott, Australia
Novel
1965
The Slow Natives
by Thea Astley, Australia
Novel
1966
Trap
by Peter Mathers, Australia
Novel
Cotters' England
by Christina Stead, Australia
Novel
1967
Bring Larks and Heroes
by Thomas Keneally, Australia
Novel
Picnic at Hanging Rock
by Joan Lindsay, Australia
Novel
1968
Three Cheers for the Paraclete
by Thomas Keneally, Australia
Novel
1969
Clean Straw for Nothing
by George Johnston, Australia
Novel
1970
A Horse of Air
by Dal Stivens, Australia
Novel
1971
The Unknown Industrial Prisoner
by David Ireland, Australia
Novel
1972
The Acolyte
by Thea Astley, Australia
Novel
1974
Peter's Pence
by John Cleary, Australia
Novel
The Mango Tree
by Ronald McKie, Australia
Novel
1975
The Commandant
by Jessica Anderson, Australia
Novel
Shōgun
by James Clavell, Australia
Novel
Poor Fellow My Country
by Xavier Herbert, Australia
Novel
1976
The Glass Canoe
by David Ireland, Australia
Novel
1977
Monkey Grip
by Helen Garner, Australia
Novel
The Thorn Birds
by Colleen McCullough, Australia
Novel
Swords and Crowns and Rings
by Ruth Park, Australia
Novel
1978
Tira Lirra by the River
by Jessica Anderson, Australia
Novel
1979
A Woman of the Future
by David Ireland, Australia
Novel
1980
The Impersonators
by Jessica Anderson, Australia
Novel
1981
Bliss
by Peter Carey, Australia
Novel
1982
Just Relations
by Rodney Hall, Australia
Novel
1982
Schindler's List
by Thomas Keneally, Australia
Novel
Fly Away Peter
by David Malouf, Australia
Novella
1983
The Bodysurfers
by Robert Drewe, Australia
Story collection
1984
The Children's Bach
by Helen Garner, Australia
Novella
Shallows
by Tim Winton, Australia
Novel
1985
The Doubleman
by Christopher Koch, Australia
Novel
No More Boomerang
by Oodgeroo Noonuccal, Australia
Poetry collection
1986
The Well
by Elizabeth Jolley, Australia
Novel
1987
Dancing on Coral
by Glenda Adams, Australia
Novel
Jack Maggs
by Peter Carey, Australia
Novel
1988
Oscar and Lucinda
by Peter Carey, Australia
Novel
Inland
by Gerald Murnane, Australia
Novel
1989
The Power of One
by Bryce Courtenay, Australia
Novel
1989–1996
Oceana Fine
by Tom Flood, Australia
Novel
1990
The Great World
by David Malouf, Australia
Novel
1991
Cloudstreet
by Tim Winton, Australia
Novel
1992
Looking for Alibrandi
by Melina Marchetta, Australia
Novel
The Ancestor Game
by Alex Miller, Australia
Novel
1993
The Grisley Wife
by Rodney Hall, Australia
Novel
Remembering Babylon
by David Malouf, Australia
Novel
1994
The Hand That Signed the Paper
by Helen Demidenko, Australia
Novel
1995
Highways to a War
by Christopher Koch, Australia
Novel
1995–2003
The Old Kingdom
by Garth Nix, Australia
Novel series
1996
The Glade Within the Grove
by David Foster, Australia
Novel
1998
Eucalyptus
by Murray Bail, Australia
Novel
2000
True History of the Kelly Gang
by Peter Carey, Australia
Novel
2001
Year of Wonders
by Geraldine Brooks, Australia
Novel
2003
The Great Fire
by Shirley Hazzard, Australia
Novel
2005
March
by Geraldine Brooks, Australia
Novel
The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak, Australia
Novel
2009
Jasper Jones
by Craig Silvey, Australia
Novel
2013
The Narrow Road to the Deep North
by Richard Flanagan, Australia
Novel
2018
Too Much Lip
by Melissa Lucashenko, Australia
Novel
