1952 in Australian literature
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1952.
Events
- The Melbourne Science Fiction Club is formed on 9 May 1952, making it the oldest current sf club outside the USA.
Books
- Martin Boyd – The Cardboard Crown
- Jon Cleary – The Sundowners
- Helen Fowler – The Shades Will Not Vanish
- T. A. G. Hungerford – The Ridge and the River
- Rex Ingamells – Of Us Now Living
- Philip Lindsay
- * The Merry Mistress
- * The Shadow of the Red Barn
- Charles Shaw – Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison
- Nevil Shute – The Far Country
- Christina Stead – The People with the Dogs
- E. V. Timms – ''The Challenge''
Short stories
- A. Bertram Chandler – "Finishing Touch"
- Peter Cowan – "The Red-Backed Spiders"
- D'Arcy Niland – "Away to Moonlight"
- Dal Stivens – "Ironbark Bill Meets the Bunyip"
- Kylie Tennant – "The Face of Despair"
Crime and mystery
- Charlotte Jay — Beat Not the Bones
- Arthur Upfield – Venom House
- June Wright – ''The Devil's Caress''
Children's and Young Adult fiction
- Nan Chauncy – ''World's End was Home''
Poetry
- David Campbell
- * "Dance of Flame and Shadow : Hobo Chorus"
- * "Snow Gums"
- C. J. Dennis and Margaret Herron – Random Verse : A Collection of Verse and Prose
- Rosemary Dobson – "The Mirror : Jan Vermeer Speaks"
- R. D. Fitzgerald – Between Two Tides
- Max Harris – "Martin Buber in the Pub"
- James McAuley
- * "Invocation"
- * "Mating Swans"
- Kenneth Mackenzie
- * Australian Poetry 1951-1952
- * "The Snake"
- * "Two Trinities"
- Ian Mudie – "They'll Tell You about Me"
- Olive Pell – "Monte Bello"
- Vivian Smith – "Bedlam Hills"
- Douglas Stewart
- * "Marree"
- * Sun Orchids and Other Poems
- Judith Wright
- * "The Ancestors"
- * "Birds"
- * "Our Love is So Natural"
Biography
- Russell Braddon – The Naked Island
- Frank Hardy – Journey Into the Future
- Jack McLaren – My Civilised Adventure
- Nettie Palmer – ''Henry Lawson''
Children's and Young Adult non-fiction
- Eve Pownall – The Australia Book, illustrated by Margaret Senior
Drama
Radio
- Vance Palmer – ''Two Worlds''
Awards and honours
Literary
| Award | Author | Title | Publisher |
| ALS Gold Medal | Tom Hungerford | The Ridge and the River | Angus and Robertson |
Children's and Young Adult
| Award | Category | Author | Title | Publisher |
| Children's Book of the Year Award | Older Readers | Eve Pownall, illustrated by Margaret Senior | The Australia Book | John Sands |
Poetry
| Award | Author | Title | Publisher |
| Grace Leven Prize for Poetry | R. D. Fitzgerald | Between Two Tides | Halstead Press |
Births
A list, ordered by date of birth of births in 1952 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of death.- 13 July – Kim Gamble, illustrator of children's books
- 9 November – Nicholas Jose, novelist
- Janine Burke, novelist
- Patricia Cornelius, playwright
- Wendy Jenkins, poet, editor and YA novelist
- Rod Moran, poet and journalist
Deaths
A list, ordered by date of death of deaths in 1952 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth.- 14 January — Victor Kennedy, poet
- 13 June – Harold Mercer, poet
- 22 July – E. J. Brady, poet
- 29 August – J. M. Walsh, novelist
- 27 December— Patrick Joseph Hartigan, priest and poet