30 Years of Collecting in …

Miles Franklin Literary Award

Australian literature has been taught as a unit at Murdoch University since 1979, and looks at the development of Australian literature in its social and cultural context. A wide variety of literary texts are covered, in addition to non-fiction and film. The Library acquires materials (books, journals, films, reference works, the Austlit database) directly related to the teaching of Australian literature, but also collects Australian literature much more extensively – in particular, including the winners and shortlisted authors of major national literary prizes.

The Miles Franklin Literary Award was established in 1954 with a bequest from author Miles Franklin, and was first awarded in 1957 to Patrick White for his novel Voss. The award celebrates Australian character and creativity and nurtures the continuing life of literature based on Australia. It is awarded for the novel of the year which is of the highest literary merit and which presents Australian life in any of its phases. The 2005 Prize is $42,000 – making this award the richest literary prize in Australia.

1975	Xavier Herbert - Poor fellow my country SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.429 H5378P
1976	David Ireland - The glass canoe SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 I658G
1977	Ruth Park - Swords and crowns and rings SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 P2368S 02
1978	Jessica Anderson - Tirra lirra by the river SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 A5478T 1
1979	David Ireland - A woman of the future SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 I658W 1
1980	Jessica Anderson - The impersonators SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 A5478I 1
1981	Peter Carey - Bliss SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 C2758B 1
1982	Rodney Hall - Just relations SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 H1788J 1
1983	No award
1984	Tim Winton - Shallows SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 W7938S 01
1985	Christopher Koch - The doubleman SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 K768D 1
1986	Elizabeth Jolley - The well SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 J758W 1
1987	Glenda Adams - Dancing on coral SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 A2138D 1
1988	No award
1989	Peter Carey - Oscar and Lucinda SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 C2758O 1
1990	Tom Flood - Oceana fine SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 F6318O 01
1991	David Malouf - The great world SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 M2588G 01
1992	Tim Winton - Cloudstreet SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 W7938C 01
1993	Alex Miller - The ancestor game SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 M6468A
1994	Rodney Hall - The grisly wife SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 H1788D
1995	Helen Darville/Demidenko - The hand that signed the paper SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 D2278H
1996	Christopher Koch - Highways to a war SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 K768H
1997	David Foster - The glade within the grove SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 F7548G
1998	Peter Carey - Jack Maggs SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 C2758J
1999	Murray Bail - Eucalyptus SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 B1538E
2000	Kim Scott - Benang SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 S4268B
	Thea Astley - Drylands SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 A8558D
2001	Frank Moorhouse - Dark palace SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 M8258D
2002	Tim Winton - Dirt music SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 W7938D
2003	Alex Miller - Journey to the stone country SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 M6468J
2004	Shirley Hazzard - The great fire SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 H4318G
2005	Andrew McGahan - White earth SOUTH WING LEVEL 2 829.439 M1468W