1978 in Australian literature
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1978.
Events
- Jessica Anderson won the 1978 Miles Franklin Award for Tirra Lirra by the River
- The Anne Elder Award for poetry is awarded for the first time
Major publications
Books
- Jessica Anderson – Tirra Lirra by the River
- Nancy Cato – All the Rivers Run
- David Malouf – An Imaginary Life
- Christopher Koch – The Year of Living Dangerously
- George Turner – ''Transit of Cassidy''
Science fiction and fantasy
- A. Bertram Chandler — To Keep the Ship
- David Lake — The Gods of Xuma, or, Barsoom Revisited
- George Turner – ''Beloved Son''
Crime and mystery
- Nicholas Hasluck — ''Quarantine''
Children's and young adult fiction
- Peter Pavey – One Dragon's Dream
- Joan Phipson – Keep Calm
- Patricia Wrightson – ''The Dark Bright Water''
Poetry
- David Campbell — "Lizard and Stone"
- Lee Cataldi — Invitation to a Marxist Lesbian Party
- Bruce Dawe — Sometimes Gladness: Collected Poems 1954–1978
- Rosemary Dobson – "The Three Fates"
- Jennifer Maiden — ''Birthstones''
Drama
- Ron Blair – ''Marx''
Non-fiction
- Patsy Adam-Smith – The ANZACS
- Mary Durack – The End of Dreaming
- Wendy Lowenstein – Weevils in the Flour
- Elyne Mitchell – ''Light Horse: The Story of Australia's Mounted Troops''
Awards and honours
Order of Australia
- Margaret Hasluck appointed Dame of the Order of Australia for "pre-eminent achievement in the fields of literature and history and for extraordinary and meritorious public service to Australia".
Drama
| Award | Author | Title |
| AWGIE Award for Stage | David Williamson | The Club |
Births
A list, ordered by date of birth of births in 1978 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of death.- 28 December — Holly Throsby, novelist and musician
- Brett McBean, horror, thriller and speculative fiction writer
- Fiona McFarlane, novelist and short story writer
- Andrew O'Connor, novelist
Deaths
A list, ordered by date of death of deaths in 1978 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth.- 9 March – John K. Ewers, novelist, poet, schoolteacher and short story writer
- 16 April – Barbara Vernon, playwright, screenwriter and radio announcer
- 23 May – Rose Lindsay, artist's model, author, and printmaker
- 15 June – Paul McGuire, author, public servant and diplomat
- 20 July – Velia Ercole, short story writer and novelist
- 23 July – T. Inglis Moore, writer, anthologist and academic
- 24 July – Annie Rattray Rentoul, children's poet and story writer
- 27 September – Margaret Horder, artist and children's book illustrator
- 7 December – Helen Haenke, poet, playwright and artist