1975 in Australian literature

This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1975.

Events

Radical poet Dorothy Hewett publishes her collection Rapunzel in Suburbia, triggering a successful libel action by her lawyer ex-husband Lloyd Davies.^[1]^[2]

Major publications

Books

James Aldridge – The Untouchable Juli^[3]
Jessica Anderson – The Commandant^[4]
Jon Cleary – The Safe House
Frank Hardy – But the Dead Are Many^[5]
Xavier Herbert – Poor Fellow My Country
Thomas Keneally
- Gossip from the Forest
- Moses the Lawgiver
David Malouf – Johnno
William Nagle – The Odd Angry Shot

Short stories

Murray Bail
- "A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,W,X,Y,Z"^[6]
- Contemporary Portraits and Other Stories^[7]
- "The Drover's Wife"^[8]
Peter Carey – "Do You Love Me?"^[9]

Science Fiction and Fantasy

A. Bertram Chandler
- The Big Black Mark
- The Broken Cycle^[10]
Sumner Locke Elliott – Going^[11]
Cordwainer Smith
- The Best of Cordwainer Smith
- Norstrilia

Children's and Young Adult fiction

Elyne Mitchell – The Colt at Taparoo^[12]

Poetry

Gwen Harwood – Selected Poems^[13]
Dorothy Hewett – Rapunzel in Suburbia^[14]
A. D. Hope – A Late Picking : Poems 1965-1974
Kate Jennings – Mother I'm Rooted : An Anthology of Australian Women Poets (edited)^[15]
Les Murray – "The Powerline Incarnation"^[16]
Peter Porter
- "An Exequy"^[17]
- Living in a Calm Country^[18]
Thomas Shapcott – Shabbytown Calendar^[19]

Drama

Robert J. Merritt – The Cake Man
Steve J. Spears – The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin

Biography

Charles Perkins – A Bastard Like Me^[20]

Non-fiction

Geoffrey Blainey – Triumph of the Nomads : A History of Ancient Australia^[21]
Anne Summers – Damned Whores and God's Police^[22]

Awards and honours

Lifetime achievement

Award	Author
Christopher Brennan Award^[23]	Judith Wright
Patrick White Award^[24]	David Campbell

Literary

Award	Author	Title	Publisher
The Age Book of the Year Award^[25]	Thea Astley	A Kindness Cup	Nelson Books
ALS Gold Medal^[26]	Not awarded
Colin Roderick Award^[27]	Denis Murphy	T.J. Ryan	University of Queensland Press

Fiction

Award	Author	Title	Publisher
The Age Book of the Year Award^[25]	Thea Astley	A Kindness Cup	Nelson Books
Miles Franklin Award^[28]	Xavier Herbert	Poor Fellow My Country	Fontana Books

Children and Young Adult

Award	Category	Author	Title	Publisher
Children's Book of the Year Award	Older Readers^[29]	Not awarded
Children's Book of the Year Award	Picture Book^[29]	A. B. Paterson, illustrated by Quentin Hole	The Man from Ironbark	Collins

Poetry

Award	Author	Title	Publisher
Grace Leven Prize for Poetry^[30]	Gwen Harwood	Selected Poems	Angus and Robertson

Non-fiction

Award	Author	Title	Publisher
The Age Book of the Year Award^[31]	Not awarded

Births

A list, ordered by date of birth (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of births in 1975 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of death.

23 June — Markus Zusak, novelist^[32]

Unknown date

Nardi Simpson, novelist and musician^[33]

Deaths

A list, ordered by date of death (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of deaths in 1975 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth.

11 January — Paul Grano, poet and journalist (born 1894)^[34]
25 May — Clive Turnbull, writer and journalist (born 1906)^[35]

Unknown date

Winifred Birkett, novelist (born 1897)^[36]

References

^ Dimond, J.; Kirkpatrick, P. (2000). Literary Sydney: A walking guide. University of Queensland Press. ISBN 978-0-7022-3150-6.
^ "Dorothy Hewett passes away". ABC radio (PM). 26 August 2002.
^ "Austlit — The Untouchable Juli by Jwmes Aldridge". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ "Austlit — The Commandant by Jessica Anderson". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ "Austlit — But the Dead Are Many by Frank Hardy". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ "Austlit — "A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,W,X,Y,Z" by Murray Bail". Austlit. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
^ "Austlit — Contemporary Portraits and Other Stories by Murray Bail". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ "Austlit — "The Drover's Wife" by Murray Bail". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ "Austlit — "Do You Love Me?" by Peter Carey". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ "Austlit — The Broken Cycle by A. Bertram Chandler". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ "Austlit — Going by Sumner Locke Elliott". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ "Austlit — The Colt at Taparoo by Elyne Mitchell". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ "Austlit — Selected Poems By Gwen Harwood". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ "Austlit — Rapunzel in Suburbia by Dorothy Hewett". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ "Austlit — Mother I'm Rooted : An Anthology of Australian Women Poets edited by Kate Jennings". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ "Austlit — "The Powerline Incarnation" by Les Murray". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ "Austlit — "An Exequy" by Peter Porter". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ "Austlit — Living in a Calm Country by Peter Porter". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ "Austlit — Shabbytown Calendar by Thomas Shapcott". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ "Austlit — A Bastard Like Me by Charles Perkins". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ "Austlit — Triumph of the Nomads : A History of Ancient Australia by Geoffrey Blainey". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ "Austlit — Damned Whores and God's Police by Anne Summers". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
^ ""Awards by Fellowship of Australian Writers"". Canberra Times. The Canberra Times, 5 March 1976, p16. 5 March 1975. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
^ "Austlit — Patrick White Award - Past Winners". Austlit. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
^ ^a ^b ""Book award"". Canberra Times. The Canberra Times, 22 November 1975, p3. 22 November 1975. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
^ "ALS Gold Medal - Previous Winners". Association for the Study of Australian Literature. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
^ "Colin Roderick Award — Other Winners". James Cook University. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
^ "In Brief : Literature", The Canberra Times, 28 April 1976, p3
^ ^a ^b "No major award for children's books", The Canberra Times, 26 April 1975, p11
^ Austlit - Selected Poems by Gwen Harwood
^ ""The Age Book of the Year Award"". Austlit. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
^ "Austlit — Markus Zusak". Austlit. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
^ "Austlit — Nardi Simpson". Austlit. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
^ "Paul Langton Grano (1894–1975)". Grano, Paul Langton (1894–1975) by Cecil Hadgraft. Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
^ "Stanley Clive Turnbull (1906–1975)". Stanley Clive Turnbull (1906–1975) by Peter Ryan. Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
^ "Winifred Birkett (1896-1975)". Austlit. Retrieved 22 June 2023.

[1] Dimond, J.; Kirkpatrick, P. (2000). Literary Sydney: A walking guide. University of Queensland Press. ISBN 978-0-7022-3150-6.

[2] "Dorothy Hewett passes away". ABC radio (PM). 26 August 2002.

[3] "Austlit — The Untouchable Juli by Jwmes Aldridge". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[4] "Austlit — The Commandant by Jessica Anderson". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[5] "Austlit — But the Dead Are Many by Frank Hardy". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[6] "Austlit — "A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,W,X,Y,Z" by Murray Bail". Austlit. Retrieved 25 November 2023.

[7] "Austlit — Contemporary Portraits and Other Stories by Murray Bail". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[8] "Austlit — "The Drover's Wife" by Murray Bail". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[9] "Austlit — "Do You Love Me?" by Peter Carey". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[10] "Austlit — The Broken Cycle by A. Bertram Chandler". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[11] "Austlit — Going by Sumner Locke Elliott". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[12] "Austlit — The Colt at Taparoo by Elyne Mitchell". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[13] "Austlit — Selected Poems By Gwen Harwood". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[14] "Austlit — Rapunzel in Suburbia by Dorothy Hewett". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[15] "Austlit — Mother I'm Rooted : An Anthology of Australian Women Poets edited by Kate Jennings". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[16] "Austlit — "The Powerline Incarnation" by Les Murray". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[17] "Austlit — "An Exequy" by Peter Porter". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[18] "Austlit — Living in a Calm Country by Peter Porter". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[19] "Austlit — Shabbytown Calendar by Thomas Shapcott". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[20] "Austlit — A Bastard Like Me by Charles Perkins". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[21] "Austlit — Triumph of the Nomads : A History of Ancient Australia by Geoffrey Blainey". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[22] "Austlit — Damned Whores and God's Police by Anne Summers". Austlit. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[CB1975-23] ""Awards by Fellowship of Australian Writers"". Canberra Times. The Canberra Times, 5 March 1976, p16. 5 March 1975. Retrieved 13 September 2023.

[AustlitPWA-24] "Austlit — Patrick White Award - Past Winners". Austlit. Retrieved 22 August 2023.

[Age75-25] ""Book award"". Canberra Times. The Canberra Times, 22 November 1975, p3. 22 November 1975. Retrieved 12 July 2023.

[ALS-26] "ALS Gold Medal - Previous Winners". Association for the Study of Australian Literature. Retrieved 12 July 2023.

[CRA-27] "Colin Roderick Award — Other Winners". James Cook University. Retrieved 15 April 2024.

[28] "In Brief : Literature", The Canberra Times, 28 April 1976, p3

[ct1975-29] "No major award for children's books", The Canberra Times, 26 April 1975, p11

[30] Austlit - Selected Poems by Gwen Harwood

[AgeAw-31] ""The Age Book of the Year Award"". Austlit. Retrieved 26 September 2023.

[32] "Austlit — Markus Zusak". Austlit. Retrieved 26 September 2023.

[33] "Austlit — Nardi Simpson". Austlit. Retrieved 26 September 2023.

[34] "Paul Langton Grano (1894–1975)". Grano, Paul Langton (1894–1975) by Cecil Hadgraft. Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 22 June 2023.

[35] "Stanley Clive Turnbull (1906–1975)". Stanley Clive Turnbull (1906–1975) by Peter Ryan. Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 22 June 2023.

[36] "Winifred Birkett (1896-1975)". Austlit. Retrieved 22 June 2023.

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v t e Years in Australian literature (1853–present)
19th century	1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900
20th century	1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
21st century	2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

1975 in Australian literature

Events

Major publications

Books

Short stories

Science Fiction and Fantasy

Children's and Young Adult fiction

Poetry

Drama

Biography

Non-fiction

Awards and honours

Lifetime achievement

Literary

Fiction

Children and Young Adult

Poetry

Non-fiction

Births

Deaths

See also

References

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