This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1948.

Books Eleanor Dark – Storm of Time George Johnston – The Moon at Perigee Jack Lindsay – Men of Forty-Eight Alan Moorehead – The Rage of the Vulture Vance Palmer – Golconda Ruth Park – The Harp in the South Katharine Susannah Prichard – Golden Miles Nevil Shute – No Highway Christina Stead – A Little Tea, a Little Chat F. J. Thwaites – The Night Closed Down E. V. Timms – Forever to Remain Patrick White – The Aunt's Story

Short stories A. Bertram Chandler – "Dawn of Nothing" Helen Meggs – "Burning Off" Judah Waten – "Black Girl in the Street"

Crime and mystery George Johnston – Death Takes Small Bites Arthur Upfield An Author Bites the Dust The Mountains Have a Secret June Wright – Murder in the Telephone Exchange

Children's and Young Adult fiction Nan Chauncy – They Found a Cave Frank Hurley – Shackleton's Argonauts : A Saga of the Antarctic Ice-Pack

Poetry

David Campbell – "The End of Exploring" Dulcie Deamer – The Silver Branch : Twenty-Seven Poems Rosemary Dobson "Carried Away" "On a Tapestry" The Ship of Ice : With Other Poems Mary Gilmore – Selected Verse Nan McDonald – "The Barren Ground" Kenneth Mackenzie – "The Children Go" Elizabeth Riddell – Poems Roland Robinson "Swift" "Would I Might Find My Country" Douglas Stewart – Glencoe Francis Webb A Drum for Ben Boyd "For My Grandfather" Judith Wright "Train Journey" "Wonga Vine"

Drama

Radio Sumner Locke Elliott – Wicked is the Vine Musette Morell – Three Radio Plays Vance Palmer – Christine

Theatre Sumner Locke Elliott – Rusty Bugles Musette Morell – Bush Cobbers Ruth Park – The Uninvited Guest

Biography Henry Handel Richardson – Myself When Young

Children's and Young Adults non-fiction Frank Hurley – Shackleton's Argonauts : A Saga of the Antarctic Icepacks

Awards and honours

Literary Award Author Title Publisher ALS Gold Medal Herz Bergner Between Sky and Sea Dolphin Publications

Children's and Young Adult Award Category Author Title Publisher Children's Book of the Year Award Older Readers Frank Hurley Shackleton's Argonauts : A Saga of the Antarctic Icepacks Angus and Robertson

Poetry Award Author Title Publisher Grace Leven Prize for PoetryAustlit - A Drum for Ben Boyd by Francis Webb Francis Webb A Drum for Ben Boyd Angus and Robertson

Births A list, ordered by date of birth (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of births in 1948 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of death.

16 February – Jeff Guess, poet 18 March – Di Morrissey, novelist 20 March – Dianne Bates, writer for children 27 March – David Dale, journalist and travel writer (died 2025) 2 April – Jennifer Rowe, novelist 23 April – John A. Scott, novelist 20 May – Kate Jennings, novelist and poet (died 2021) 23 July – Alan Wearne, poet 24 July — Joan London, novelist 12 September – Michael Dransfield, poet (died 1973) 21 September – Sean McMullen, novelist 25 September – Vicki Viidikas, poet and writer (died 1998) 2 November – Jenny Pausacker, novelist

Unknown date Roger Bennett, playwright (died 1997) Pam Brown, poet Jimmy Chi, playwright and composer (died 2017) Martin Duwell, editor Dennis Haskell, poet Dorothy Johnston, novelist Margaret Wild, writer for children (in South Africa)

Deaths

A list, ordered by date of death (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of deaths in 1948 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth.

20 May – Marie E. J. Pitt, poet (born 1869) 26 September — R. J. Cassidy, poet (born 1880)

See also 1948 in Australia 1948 in literature 1948 in poetry List of years in Australian literature List of years in literature

References