1961 in Australian literature
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1961.
Events
The Australian Book Review was founded in 1961 by Max Harris and Rosemary Wighton.Books
- James Aldridge – The Last Exile
- Mena Calthorpe – The Dyehouse
- A. Bertram Chandler – The Rim of Space
- Kenneth Cook – Wake in Fright
- Dymphna Cusack – Heatwave in Berlin
- Nene Gare – The Fringe Dwellers
- Xavier Herbert – Soldiers' Women
- Elizabeth Kata – Be Ready with Bells and Drums
- John O'Grady – No Kava for Johnny
- Ruth Park – The Good Looking Women
- Hal Porter – The Tilted Cross
- F. J. Thwaites – Beyond the Rainbow
- George Turner – A Stranger and Afraid
- Judah Waten – Time of Conflict
- Patrick White – ''Riders in the Chariot''
Short stories
- Thea Astley – "Cubby"
- A. Bertram Chandler – "All Laced Up"
- Shirley Hazzard – "Woollahra Road"
- Ray Mathew – A Bohemian Affair : Short Stories
- D'Arcy Niland
- * The Ballad of the Fat Bushranger : And Other Stories
- * Dadda Jumped Over Two Elephants
- * Logan's Girl and Other Stories
- Desmond O'Grady – "Barbecue"
- Charles Osborne – Australian Stories of Today
- Hal Porter – "Say to Me Ronald!"
Crime and mystery
- Mark McShane – Seance on a Wet Afternoon
- Arthur Upfield – The White Savage
- Morris West – ''Daughter of Silence''
Children's and Young Adult fiction
- L. H. Evers – The Racketty Street Gang
- John Gunn – Dangerous Enemies
- Ruth Park – The Hole in the Hill
- Betty Roland – Forbidden Bridge
- Colin Thiele – Sun on the Stubble
- Joan Woodberry – ''Rafferty Rides a Winner''
Poetry
- Vincent Buckley – Masters in Israel
- Emily Bulcock – From Australia to Britain
- Gwen Harwood – "Nightfall"
- A. D. Hope – "The Double Looking Glass"
- David Malouf – "At My Grandmother's"
- Peter Porter – Once Bitten, Twice Bitten
- Elizabeth Riddell – Forbears
- Thomas Shapcott – Time on Fire
- Randolph Stow
- * "Dust"
- * "Ruins of the City of Hay"
- Chris Wallace-Crabbe – "Melbourne"
- Francis Webb – ''Socrates and Other Poems''
Biography
- Frank Hardy – ''The Hard Way : The Story Behind Power Without Glory''
Drama
Theatre
Awards and honours
Literary
| Award | Author | Title | Publisher |
| ALS Gold Medal | Not awarded | ||
| Miles Franklin Award | Patrick White | Riders in the Chariot | Eyre & Spottiswoode |
Children and Young Adult
| Award | Category | Author | Title | Publisher |
| Children's Book of the Year Award | Older Readers | Nan Chauncy, illustrated by Brian Wildsmith | Tangara | Oxford University Press |
| Children's Book of the Year Award | Picture Book | No award |
Poetry
| Award | Author | Title | Publisher |
| Grace Leven Prize for Poetry | Thomas Shapcott | Time on Fire | Jacaranda Press |
Births
A list, ordered by date of birth of births in 1961 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of death.- 29 June — Peter FitzSimons, writer
- 20 August – Greg Egan, novelist and short story writer
- 3 September — Andy Griffiths, writer for children
- 30 September — Jordie Albiston, poet and academic
- 29 October — Michael Gurr, playwright, author, speech writer and screenwriter
- Richard Flanagan, novelist
Deaths
A list, ordered by date of death of deaths in 1961 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth.- 6 February — Rupert Atkinson, poet
- 22 May — Lionel Lindsay, artist and essayist
- 9 June – Jeannie Gunn, novelist
- 27 June – Harry Hooton, poet and social commentator
- 24 July – William Fleming, novelist and poet
- 26 July — Alice Gore-Jones, poet
- 30 July — James Robert Tyrrell, bookseller, art dealer, publisher and author
- 20 August — Alice Grant Rosman, novelist
- 6 October – Mary Montgomerie Bennett, biographer and nonfiction author