1940 in Australian literature
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1940.
Events
- Meanjin magazine publishes its first issue in Brisbane.
Novels
- E. C. Allen – Old Eugowra
- Martin Boyd – Nuns in Jeopardy
- Roy Connolly – Southern Saga
- Dulcie Deamer – Holiday
- Arthur Gask
- * The House on the Fens
- * The Tragedy of the Silver Moon
- Michael Innes
- * The Secret Vanguard
- * There Came Both Mist and Snow
- Josephine Knowles – Leaves in the Wind
- Will Lawson – Red Morgan Rides
- Eric Lowe – Framed in Hardwood
- Nevil Shute
- * Landfall: A Channel Story
- * An Old Captivity
- Helen Simpson – Maid No More
- Christina Stead – The Man Who Loved Children
- F. J. Thwaites – Whispers in Tahiti
- Arthur Upfield – Bushranger of the Skies
- Rix Weaver – ''Behold New Holland''
Short stories
- Gavin Casey – "The Day at the Brown Lakes"
- Frank Dalby Davison – The Woman at the Mill
- Alan Marshall – "Tell Us About the Turkey, Jo"
Children's
- Mary Grant Bruce – Peter & Co.
- May Gibbs – The Complete Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie
- P. L. Travers – Happy Ever After
- Dorothy Wall – ''Blinky Bill Joins the Army''
Poetry
- Mary Gilmore – "No Foe Shall Gather Our Harvest"
- Max Harris – The Gift of Blood
- Eve Langley – "Native-Born"
- Ian Mudie – Corroboree to the Sun
- Roderic Quinn – "Tyrrell's Bookshop"
- Kenneth Slessor – "Metempsychosis"
- Douglas Stewart – ''Elegy for an Airman''
Non-Fiction
- Malcolm Uren – ''Sailormen's Ghosts''
Drama
Radio
Theatre
Awards and honours
Literary
| Award | Author | Title | Publisher |
| ALS Gold Medal | William Baylebridge | This Vital Flesh | Tallabila Press |
Births
A list, ordered by date of birth of births in 1940 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of death.- 9 February – J. M. Coetzee, novelist
- 19 March – Andrew Taylor, poet
- 12 April – Jack Hibberd, playwright and novelist
- 16 April – Marion Halligan, novelist
- 28 July – Geoffrey Lehmann, poet and writer for children
- 7 July – Geoff Page, poet
- 18 August – Jan Owen, poet
- 16 October – Ron Pretty, poet
- 10 November – Jill Roe, historian
- 16 November – Craig Powell, poet
- Carmel Bird, novelist
- Rosaleen Love, critic and short story writer
Deaths
A list, ordered by date of death of deaths in 1940 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth.- 27 March – K. Langloh Parker, author
- 3 May – S. Elliott Napier, poet and journalist