1953 in Australian literature
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1953.
Books
- Charmian Clift and George Johnston β The Big Chariot
- Alec Coppel β The Last Parable
- Dymphna Cusack β Southern Steel
- Eleanor Dark β No Barrier
- Helen Heney β Dark Moon
- T. A. G. Hungerford β Riverslake
- Ion Idriess β The Red Chief
- Jack Lindsay β Betrayed Spring : A Novel of the British Way
- J. E. Macdonnellβ Gimme the Boats
- Ruth Park β A Power of Roses
- Nevil Shute β In the Wet
- Kylie Tennant β The Joyful Condemned
- F. J. Thwaites β Roof Over Heaven
- E. V. Timms β The Scarlet Frontier
- Arthur Upfield β ''Murder Must Wait''
Short stories
- A. Bertram Chandler β "Jetsam"
- Stephen Murray-Smith β The Tracks We Travel : Australian Short Stories
- Colin Roderick β Australian Round-Up : Stories from 1790 to 1950
- Nevil Shute β In the Wet
- Dal Stivens β The Gambling Ghost and Other Tales
- Judith Wright β "The Weeping Fig"
Children's and Young Adult fiction
- K. Langloh Parker β Australian Legendary Tales, edited by Henrietta Drake-Brockman, illustrated by Elizabeth Durack
- Joan Phipson β Good Luck to the Rider, illustrated by Margaret Horder
Poetry
- John Blight
- * "Cormorants"
- * "Crab"
- * "Mangrove"
- * "Stonefish and Starfish"
- Dulcie Deamer β The Blue Centaur
- Rosemary Dobson β "The Birth"
- Mary Gilmore β "Old Botany Bay"
- A. D. Hope β "Imperial Adam"
- James McAuley β "Late Winter"
- David Martin β "Bush Christmas"
- T. Inglis Moore β Australia Writes : An Anthology
- Marjorie Pizer β Freedom on the Wallaby
- Elizabeth Riddell β "Country Tune"
- Roland Robinson β Tumult of the Swans
- Douglas Stewart β "Christmas Bells"
- Francis Webb β Birthday
- Judith Wright
- * "The Harp and the King"
- * "Request to a Year"
- * ''The Gateway''
Biography
- Catherine Beatrice Edmonds β Caddie, A Sydney Barmaid
- Margaret Herron β ''Down the Years''
Non-Fiction
- James H. Martin & W. D. Martin β ''Aircraft of Today and Tomorrow''
Awards and honours
Literary
| Award | Author | Title | Publisher |
| ALS Gold Medal | Not awarded |
Children's and Young Adult
| Award | Category | Author | Title | Publisher |
| Children's Book of the Year Award | Older Readers | James H. Martin & W. D. Martin | Aircraft of Today and Tomorrow | Angus and Robertson |
| Children's Book of the Year Award | Older Readers | Joan Phipson, illustrated by Margaret Horder | Good Luck to the Rider | Angus and Robertson |
Poetry
| Award | Author | Title | Publisher |
| Grace Leven Prize for Poetry | Roland Robinson | Tumult of the Swans | Edwards and Shaw |
Births
A list, ordered by date of birth of births in 1953 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of death.- 9 January β Morris Gleitzman, writer for children
- 12 January β David Brooks, novelist and poet
- 5 February β Rod Jones, novelist
- 13 March β Stephen Sewell, playwright
- 18 April β Leigh Hobbs, artist and writer for children
- 14 May β Kerryn Goldsworthy, academic, editor and critic
- 30 August β Ross Clark, poet
- 29 November β Jackie French, writer for children
- Marion Lennox, novelist
- Ian McBryde, poet
- Shane Maloney, novelist
- Chris Mansell, poet and publisher
Deaths
A list, ordered by date of death of deaths in 1953 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth.- 9 April β Albert Dorrington, novelist
- 11 May β Leonora Polkinghorne, novelist and poet
- 22 May β Louis Lavater, composer and author
- 30 June β Beatrice Grimshaw, novelist and travel writer
- 12 August β J. H. M. Abbott, novelist and poet
- 1 September β Bernard O'Dowd, poet
- 14 December β Dora Wilcox, poet and playwright
- Guy Innes, journalist