1989 in Australian literature

This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1989.

Events

• Peter Carey won the Miles Franklin Award for Oscar and Lucinda

Major publications

Novels

• Mena Calthorpe, The Plain of Ala
• Bryce Courtenay, The Power of One
• Peter Goldsworthy, Maestro
• Elizabeth Jolley, My Father's Moon
• Mandy Sayer, Mood Indigo
• Amy Witting, I is for Isobel

Short story anthologies

• Brian Matthews, Quickening and Other Stories

Children's and young adult fiction

• Graeme Base, The Eleventh Hour
• Anna Fienberg, The Nine Lives of Balthazar
• Morris Gleitzman, Two Weeks with the Queen

Poetry

• Robert Adamson (poet), The Clean Dark
• Dorothy Porter, Driving Too Fast
• Peter Skrzynecki, Night Swim

Drama

• Nick Enright, Daylight Saving (play)
• Jenny Kemp (playwright), Call of the Wild
• Peta Murray
  • Spitting Chips
  • Wallflowering
• David Williamson, Top Silk

Non-fiction

• Jill Ker Conway, The Road from Coorain

Awards and honours

• Mary Durack AC, for "service to the community and literature"
• Les Murray (poet) AO, for "service to Australian literature"
• Thomas Shapcott AO, for "service to Australian literature and to arts administration"
• Gwen Harwood AO, for "service to literature, particularly as a poet and librettist"
• Max Harris (poet) AO, for "service to literature"
• Clement Semmler AM, for "service to Australian literature"
• John Morrison (writer) AM, for "service to literature"

Births

A list, ordered by date of birth (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of births in 1989 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of death.

• 2 June — Will Kostakis, author and journalist

See also

• 1989 in Australia
• 1989 in literature
• 1989 in poetry
• List of years in literature
• List of years in Australian literature