This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1949.
Books
James Aldridge – The Diplomat Martin Boyd – Such Pleasure Jon Cleary – The Long Shadow Charmian Clift & George Johnston – High Valley Jean Devanny – Cindie : A Chronicle of the Canefields Philip Lindsay All That Glitters The Loves of My Lord Admiral Alan Marshall – How Beautiful Are Thy Feet Ruth Park – Poor Man's Orange E. V. Timms – The Pathway of the Sun June Wright – So Bad a Death
Short stories
Vance Palmer – "Mathieson's Wife" Dal Stivens – "The Pepper Tree" Judah Waten – "Neighbours"
Poetry
John Blight – "Into the Ark" David Campbell – Speak With the Sun Rosemary Dobson "Ampersand" "Child with a Cockatoo" "The Missal" Geoffrey Dutton – "Wool-Shed Dance" Nan McDonald – "Wet Summer : Botanic Gardens" Kenneth Mackenzie – "Table-Birds" Elizabeth Riddell "News of a Baby" "Wakeful in the Township" Roland Robinson – Language of the Sand : Poems David Rowbotham – "Nine O'Clock : By the Bunya Mountains" Douglas Stewart "Nodding Greenhood" "Terra Australis" Judith Wright "The Old Prison" Woman to Man
Drama
Max Afford – Dark Enchantment
Awards and honours
Literary
Award Author Title Publisher ALS Gold Medal Percival Serle Dictionary of Australian Biography Angus and Robertson
Children's and Young Adult
Award Category Author Title Publisher Children's Book of the Year Award Older Readers No competition
Poetry
Award Author Title Publisher Grace Leven Prize for PoetryAustlit - Woman to Man by Judith Wright Judith Wright Woman to Man 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 1949 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of death.
8 February – Nigel Krauth, novelist and academic 22 March – Alan Gould, novelist 7 April – Jennifer Maiden, poet 30 April – Nadia Wheatley, biographer and writer for children 15 August – Garry Disher, novelist 6 November – Barry Dickins, author and playwright (died 2026)
Unknown date Ken Bolton, poet Judith Brett, historian and academic Steven Carroll, novelist Jennifer Compton, poet and playwright (in New Zealand) Laurie Duggan, poet John Jenkins, poet Don Watson, author
Deaths
A list, ordered by date of death (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of deaths in 1949 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth.
3 April — Ada Augusta Holman, journalist and novelist (born 1869) 15 August – Roderic Quinn, poet (born 1867) 16 September – Marion Knowles, novelist, poet and journalist (born 1865) 11 October – Sydney Ure Smith, publisher (born 1887)
See also 1949 in Australia 1949 in literature 1949 in poetry List of years in Australian literature List of years in literature
References