1980 in Australian literature
This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1980.
Events
- The Australian/Vogel Literary Award: Inaugural award to Archie Weller, The Day Of The Dog; the award was initially given to Paul Radley, who, in 1996, admitted that his manuscript was actually written by his uncle.
- Jessica Anderson won the 1980 Miles Franklin Award for ''The Impersonators''
Major publications
Books
- Jessica Anderson — The Impersonators
- Murray Bail — Homesickness
- Jon Cleary — A Very Private War
- Shirley Hazzard — The Transit of Venus
- Elizabeth Jolley — Palomino
- Thomas Keneally — The Cut-Rate Kingdom
- Randolph Stow — ''The Girl Green as Elderflower''
Short story collections
Science fiction
- Damien Broderick — ''The Dreaming Dragons''
Crime and mystery
- Peter Corris — The Dying Trade
- Gabrielle Lord — ''Fortress''
Children's and Young Adult fiction
- Pamela Allen – The Archimedes' Bath
- Mavis Thorpe Clark – A Stranger Came to the Mine
- Robert Ingpen — The Voyage of the Poppykettle
- Ruth Park — Playing Beatie Bow
- Ruth Park and Deborah Niland – ''When the Wind Changed''
Poetry
- Jenny Boult – The Hotel Anonymous
- Richard Lunn – Pompeii Deep Fry
- Les Murray — The Boys Who Stole the Funeral
- Judith Rodriguez — Mudcrab at Gambaro's
- Gig Ryan – The Division of Anger
- Philip Salom — The Silent Piano
- Chris Wallace-Crabbe — The Golden Apples of the Sun: Twentieth Century Australian Poetry editor,
Non-fiction
- Robyn Davidson – Tracks
- Allan M. Grocott – Convicts, Clergymen and Churches
- Clive James – Unreliable Memoirs
- David Marr – ''Barwick''
Awards and honours
- Kylie Tennant – Officer of the Order of Australia
- Max Fatchen – Member of the Order of Australia
- Marjorie Barnard – Medal of the Order of Australia
- Patsy Adam-Smith – Officer of the British Empire
Poetry
| Award | Author | Title | Publisher |
| Anne Elder Award | Richard Lunn | Pompeii Deep Fry | Randolph Press |
| Grace Leven Prize for Poetry | Les Murray | The Boys Who Stole the Funeral | Angus & Robertson |
| New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards | David Campbell | The Man in the Honeysuckle | Angus & Robertson |
Births
A list, ordered by date of birth of births in 1980 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of death.- 7 July – Brooke Davis, novelist
- Elizabeth Campbell, poet
- Ceridwen Dovey, novelist
Deaths
A list, ordered by date of death of deaths in 1980 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth.- 2 September – Frederick Macartney, poet and critic
- 3 February – Marnie Bassett, historian and biographer
- 18 October – Martin Haley, poet and translator