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