1949 in Australian literature
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"
- * "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 Poetry | Judith Wright | Woman to Man | Angus and Robertson |
Births
A list, ordered by date of birth 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
- Ken Bolton, poet
- Judith Brett, historian and academic
- Steven Carroll, novelist
- Jennifer Compton, poet and playwright
- Laurie Duggan, poet
- John Jenkins, poet
- Don Watson, author
Deaths
A list, ordered by date of death 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
- 15 August – Roderic Quinn, poet
- 16 September – Marion Knowles, novelist, poet and journalist
- 11 October – Sydney Ure Smith, publisher