2004 in Australian literature

• John Hay, Peter Porter, Elizabeth Webby, W. H. Wilde, and Barbara Ker Wilson are all recognised in the 2004 Australia Day Honours.[http://www.austlit.edu.au/news/newsMarchApril2004 The Austlit Gateway News March/April 2004]
• Peter Craven is sacked as editor of Quarterly Essay and the annual The Best Australian... anthologies after a dispute with Black Inc. publisher Morry Schwartz.
• Kenneth Dutton, Nick Enright, Morag Fraser, David Myers, and Brenda Niall are recognised in the Queen's Birthday honours list.[http://www.austlit.edu.au/news/newsJulyAugust2004 The Austlit Gateway News July/August 2004]
• Independent book publishers Text (Australia) and Canongate (UK) form a joint venture. The Text Media Group, purchased by John Fairfax earlier this year, sells Text Publishing to the joint venture partners.
• Sydney Morning Herald Literary Editor, Malcolm Knox exposes Norma Khouri and her 'factual' account of honour killings in Jordan as a fabrication.[http://www.austlit.edu.au/news/newsSeptemberOctober2004 The Austlit Gateway News September/October 2004]
• Mark Rubbo, David Marr and Kerryn Goldsworthy resign as Miles Franklin Award judges in protest at changes to the charter governing the award's administration.{{cite news|title=Book prize controversy |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Editorial/Book-prize-controversy/2004/12/22/1103391832587.html |work=The Age |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103051140/http://www.theage.com.au/news/Editorial/Book-prize-controversy/2004/12/22/1103391832587.html |archivedate=3 November 2012 |url-status=live |accessdate=21 April 2009 |location=Melbourne |date=23 December 2004 }}
• Inaugural Chief Minister's Northern Territory Book History Awards held{{Cite web|url=https://ntl.nt.gov.au/chief-ministers-northern-territory-history-book-award|title=Chief Minister’s Northern Territory History Book Award {{!}} Northern Territory Library|website=ntl.nt.gov.au|access-date=6 December 2019}}

• Sarah Armstrong – Salt Rain
• Larissa Behrendt – Home{{cite web|title= Home by Larissa Behrendt|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3102847 |access-date= 26 February 2025}}
• Carmel Bird – Cape Grimm{{cite web|title= Cape Grimm by Carmel Bird|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3068097 |access-date= 26 February 2025}}
• Steven Carroll – The Gift of Speed
• John Charalambous – Furies{{cite web|title= Furies by John Charalambous|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3084376 |access-date= 26 February 2025}}
• Jon Cleary – Miss Ambar Regrets
• Bryce Courtenay – Brother Fish
• Sophie Cunningham – Geography{{cite web|title= Geography by Sophie Cunningham|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3060904 |access-date= 26 February 2025}}
• Jack Dann – The Rebel: An Imagined Life of James Dean{{cite web|title= The Rebel: An Imagined Life of James Dean by Jack Dann|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3072791 |access-date= 26 February 2025}}
• Nick Earls – The Thompson Gunner{{cite web|title= The Thompson Gunner by Nick Earls|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3071949 |access-date= 26 February 2025}}
• Susan Johnson – The Broken Book{{cite web|title= The Broken Book by Susan Johnson |publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3098639 |access-date= 26 February 2025}}
• Gail Jones – Sixty Lights
• Stefan Laszczuk – The Goddamn Bus of Happiness{{cite web|title= The Goddamn Bus of Happiness by Stefan Laszczuk |publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3288687 |access-date= 26 February 2025}}
• Amanda Lohrey – The Philosopher's Doll{{cite web|title= The Philosopher's Doll by Amanda Lohrey|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3076296 |access-date= 26 February 2025}}
• Colleen McCullough – Angel Puss{{cite web|title= Angel Puss by Colleen McCullough|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3234105 |access-date= 26 February 2025}}
• Andrew McGahan – The White Earth
• Monica McInerney – The Alphabet Sisters{{cite web|title= The Alphabet Sisters by Monica McInerney|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/7286458 |access-date= 26 February 2025}}
• Emily Maguire – Taming the Beast{{cite web|title= Taming the Beast by Emily Maguire|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3102968 |access-date= 26 February 2025}}
• Steven Orr – Hill of Grace{{cite web|title= Hill of Grace by Steven Orr|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3257018 |access-date= 26 February 2025}}
• Eva Sallis – Fire Fire{{cite web|title= Fire Fire by Eva Sallis|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3094756 |access-date= 26 February 2025}}
• Nicholas Shakespeare – Snowleg{{cite web|title= Snowleg by Nicholas Shakespeare|publisher= Austlit|url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C499195|access-date= 26 February 2025}}
• Celestine Hitiura Vaite – Frangipani {{cite web|title= Frangipani by Celestine Hitiura Vaite|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4462999 |access-date= 26 February 2025}}
• Gerard Windsor – I Have Kissed Your Lips{{cite web|title= I Have Kissed Your Lips by Gerard Windsor|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3108110 |access-date= 26 February 2025}}
• Charlotte Wood – The Submerged Cathedral
• Arnold Zable – Scraps of Heaven{{cite web|title= Scraps of Heaven by Arnold Zable|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3120454 |access-date= 26 February 2025}}

• Joanna Baker – Devastation Road{{cite web|title= Devastation Road by Joanna Baker|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3049748 |access-date= 30 September 2024}}
• Michael Gerard Bauer – The Running Man
• Sherryl Clark – Farm Kid{{cite web|title= Farm Kid by Sherryl Clark|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3101211 |access-date= 30 September 2024}}
• Robert Corbert – Shelf Life
• Joanne Crawford and Grace Fielding – A Home for Bilby{{cite web|title= A Home for Bilby by Joanne Crawford and Grace Fielding|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3105061 |access-date= 30 September 2024}}
• Anthony Eaton – Fireshadow
• Jon Flanagan – The Ruins of Gorlan
• Sonya Hartnett – The Silver Donkey
• Steven Herrick – By the River{{cite web|title= By the River by Steven Herrick|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3059937 |access-date= 30 September 2024}}
• Joanne Horniman – Secret Scribbled Notebooks{{cite web|title= Secret Scribbled Notebooks by Joanne Horniman|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3101927 |access-date= 30 September 2024}}
• Prue Mason – Camel Rider{{cite web|title= Camel Rider by Prue Mason|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/7286644 |access-date= 30 September 2024}}
• James Moloney – The Book of Lies
• Garth Nix – Grim Tuesday
• Emily Rodda
• Dragon's Nest
• Isle of the Dead
• Shadowgate
• The Sister of the South
• Scott Westerfeld – So Yesterday

• Peter Corris – The Coast Road{{cite web|title= The Coast Road by Peter Corris|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3068944|access-date= 25 February 2024}}
• Colin Cotterill – The Coroner's Lunch{{cite web|title= The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3665906|access-date= 25 February 2024}}
• Kathryn Fox – Malicious Intent
• Jane Goodall – The Walker{{cite web|title= The Walker by Jane Goodall|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3060338|access-date= 25 February 2024}}
• Kerry Greenwood
• Earthly Delights{{cite web|title= Earthly Delights by Kerry Greenwood|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3062532|access-date= 25 February 2024}}
• Heavenly Pleasures{{cite web|title= Heavenly Pleasures by Kerry Greenwood|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3261658|access-date= 25 February 2024}}
• Malcolm Knox – A Private Man
• Barry Maitland – No Trace{{cite web|title= No Trace by Barry Maitland|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3125660|access-date= 25 February 2024}}
• Tara Moss – Covet {{cite web|title= Covet by Tara Moss|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4358298|access-date= 25 February 2024}}
• Tony Park – Far Horizon{{cite web|title= Far Horizon by Tony Park|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3068823|access-date= 25 February 2024}}
• Steve J. Spears – Murder by Manuscript{{cite web|title= Murder by Manuscript by Steven J. Spears|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3082558|access-date= 25 February 2024}}

• Christine Balint – Ophelia's Fan{{cite web|title= Ophelia's Fan by Christine Balint|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3075536 |access-date= 24 February 2025}}
• Catherine Jinks – Spinning Around{{cite web|title= Spinning Around by Catherine Jinks|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3062533 |access-date= 24 February 2025}}
• Stephanie Laurens – The Ideal Bride{{cite web|title= The Ideal Bride by Stephanie Laurens|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3068699 |access-date= 24 February 2025}}
• Rachael Treasure – The Stockmen{{cite web|title= The Stockmen by Rachael Treasure|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3112248 |access-date= 24 February 2025}}
• Lynne Wilding – Outback Sunset{{cite web|title= Outback Sunset by Lynne Wilding|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3079007 |access-date= 24 February 2025}}

• John Birmingham – Weapons of Choice
• John Brosnan – Mothership{{cite web|title= Mothership by John Brosnan|publisher= ISFDB|url= https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?154254|access-date= 30 September 2024}}
• Alison Croggon – The Riddle
• Cecilia Dart-Thornton – The Iron Tree
• Marianne de Pierres – Nylon Angel
• Jennifer Fallon – Wolfblade
• Rob Gerrand — The Best Australian Science Fiction Writing : A Fifty Year Collection (edited)
• Richard Harland – The Black Crusade
• Simon Haynes – Hal Spacejock: Just Desserts{{cite web|title= Hal Spacejock: Just Desserts by Simon Haynes|publisher= Austlit|url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C564471|access-date= 30 September 2024}}
• Nathan Hobby – The Fur
• Liam Hearn – Brilliance of the Moon
• Ian Irvine – The Life Lottery
• Margo Lanagan – Black Juice
• Glenda Larke – The Tainted{{cite web|title= The Tainted by Glenda Larke|publisher= ISFDB|url= https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?182006|access-date= 30 September 2024}}
• Maxine McArthur – Less than Human
• Fiona McIntosh
• Blood and Memory
• Bridge of Souls
• Sophie Masson – Snow, Fire, Sword{{cite web|title= Snow, Fire, Sword by Sophie Masson|publisher= ISFDB|url= https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?181337|access-date= 30 September 2024}}
• Josephine Pennicott – A Fire in the Shell{{cite web|title= A Fire in the Shell by Josephine Pennicott|publisher= ISFDB|url= https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?876512|access-date= 30 September 2024}}
• Matthew Reilly – Hover Car Racer
• Cherry Wilder and Katya Reimann – The Wanderer{{cite web|title= The Wanderer by Cherry Wilder and Katya Reimann|publisher= ISFDB|url= https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?32429|access-date= 30 September 2024}}
• Kim Wilkins – Giants of the Frost
• Sean Williams – The Crooked Letter

• Martin Flanagan – The Call{{cite web|title= The Call by Martin Flanagan|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3259426 |access-date= 24 February 2025}}
• Michael Gurr – Julia 3{{cite web|title= Julia 3 by Michael Gurr|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3125568 |access-date= 24 February 2025}}
• Debra Oswald – Mr Bailey's Minder{{cite web|title= Mr Bailey's Minder by Debra Oswald|publisher= Austlit|url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C505498|access-date= 24 February 2025}}
• Abe Pogos – Toby{{cite web|title= Toby by Abe Pogos|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3099919 |access-date= 24 February 2025}}
• Alana Valentine – Run Rabbit Run!{{cite web|title= Run Rabbit Run! by Alana Valentine|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3102905 |access-date= 24 February 2025}}
• David Williamson – Amigos

• M. T. C. Cronin – {{proper name| 1–100}}{{cite web|title= 1–100 by M. T. C. Cronin|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/6534667 |access-date= 18 October 2024}}
• Luke Davies – Totem
• Sarah Day – The Ship{{cite web|title= The Ship by Sarah Day|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3103853 |access-date= 18 October 2024}}
• Noel Rowe – Next to Nothing{{cite web|title= Next to Nothing by Noel Rowe|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3290467 |access-date= 18 October 2024}}
• Dipti Saravanamuttu – The Colosseum{{cite web|title= The Colosseum' by Dipti Saravanamuttu|publisher= Austlit|url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C536181|access-date= 18 October 2024}}
• Samuel Wagan Watson – Smoke Encrypted Whispers{{cite web|title= Smoke Encrypted Whispers by Samuel Wagan Watson|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3119395 |access-date= 18 October 2024}}

• Peter Carey – Wrong About Japan: A Father's Journey with His Son{{cite web|title= Wrong About Japan: A Father's Journey with His Son by Peter Carey|publisher= Austlit|url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C523326|access-date= 24 February 2025}}
• Graeme Davison with Sheryl Yelland – Car Wars: How the Car Won Our Hearts and Conquered Our Cities{{cite web|title= Car Wars: How the Car Won Our Hearts and Conquered Our Cities by Graeme Davison with Sheryl Yelland|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3069955 |access-date= 24 February 2025}}
• Sally Neighbour – In the Shadow of Swords: on the Trail of Terrorism from Afghanistan to Australia{{cite web|title= In the Shadow of Swords: on the Trail of Terrorism from Afghanistan to Australia by Sally Neighbour|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3125915 |access-date= 24 February 2025}}

• Michael Ackland – Henry Handel Richardson: A Life{{cite web|title= Henry Handel Richardson: A Life by Michael Ackland|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3080934 |access-date= 25 February 2025}}
• Phillip Adams – Adam's Ark{{cite web|title= Adam's Ark by Phillip Adams |publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3104770 |access-date= 25 February 2025}}
• Gay Bilson – Plenty: Digressions on Food{{cite web|title= Plenty: Digressions on Food by Gay Bilson|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3092536 |access-date= 25 February 2025}}
• Max Brown – Charmian and George: The Marriage of George Johnston and Charmian Clift{{cite web|title= Charmian and George: The Marriage of George Johnston and Charmian Clift by Max Brown|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3049712 |access-date= 25 February 2025}}
• Don Chipp – Keep the Bastards Honest{{cite web|title= Keep the Bastards Honest by Don Chipp|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3123941 |access-date= 25 February 2025}}
• Michael Duffy – Latham and Abbott{{cite web|title= Latham and Abbott by Michael Duffy|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3110651 |access-date= 25 February 2025}}
• Carolly Erikson – The Girl from Botany Bay: The True Story of Mary Broad and Her Extraordinary Escape{{cite web|title= The Girl from Botany Bay: The True Story of Mary Broad and Her Extraordinary Escape by Carolly Erickson|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3092400 |access-date= 25 February 2025}}
• Peter FitzSimons – Steve Waugh{{cite web|title= Steve Waugh by Peter FitzSimons|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3110619 |access-date= 25 February 2025}}
• Tim Flannery – Country{{cite web|title= Country by Tim Flannery|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3120069 |access-date= 25 February 2025}}
• John Hughes – The Idea of Home: Autobiographical Essays{{cite web|title= The Idea of Home: Autobiographical Essays by John Hughes|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3114370 |access-date= 25 February 2025}}
• John Marsden – I Am What I Am: My Life and Curious Times{{cite web|title= I Am What I Am: My Life and Curious Times by John Marsden|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3094801 |access-date= 25 February 2025}}
• Siobhan O'Brien – A Life by Design: The Art and Lives of Florence Broadhurst{{cite web|title= A Life by Design: The Art and Lives of Florence Broadhurst by Siobhan O'Brien|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3160385 |access-date= 25 February 2025}}
• Sue Pieters-Hawke and Hazel Flynn – Hazel's Journey: A Personal Experience of Alzheimer's{{cite web|title= Hazel's Journey: A Personal Experience of Alzheimer's by Sue Pieters-Hawke and Hazel Flynn|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3125176 |access-date= 25 February 2025}}
• Peter Roebuck – Sometimes I Forgot to Laugh{{cite web|title= Sometimes I Forgot to Laugh by Peter Roebuck|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3121859 |access-date= 25 February 2025}}
• Charles Tingwell – Bud: A Life{{cite web|title= Bud: A Life by Charles Tingwell|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3071556 |access-date= 25 February 2025}}
• Stevie Wright and Glenn Goldsmith – Hard Road: The Life and Times of Stevie Wright{{cite web|title= Hard Road: The Life and Times of Stevie Wright by Stevie Wright and Glenn Goldsmith|publisher= National Library of Australia|url= https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3099524 |access-date= 25 February 2025}}

Note: these awards were presented in the year in question.

• 3 January –
• Len Fox, journalist, historian, social activist and painter (born 1905){{Cite web |title=Len Fox (1905-2004)|url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A2520 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=AustLit: Discover Australian Stories |publisher=The University of Queensland}}
• Barbara Jefferis, novelist and dramatist (born 1917){{Cite web |title=Barbara Jefferis (1917-2004)|url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A32193 |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=AustLit: Discover Australian Stories |publisher=The University of Queensland}}
• 8 January – Norman Talbot, poet (born 1936){{cite web|title= Austlit — Norman Talbot (1936-2004) |publisher= Austlit|url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A29619|access-date= 30 September 2024}}
• 17 February – Bruce Beaver, poet (born 1928){{Cite web |title=Bruce Beaver (1928-2004)|url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A554 |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=AustLit: Discover Australian Stories |publisher=The University of Queensland}}
• 11 April – Wilbur G. Howcroft, writer for children (born 1917){{Cite web |title=Wilbur G. Howcroft (1917-2004)|url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A34537 |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=AustLit: Discover Australian Stories |publisher=The University of Queensland}}
• 7 July – Elisabeth MacIntyre, writer for children (born 1916){{Cite web |title=Elisabeth MacIntyre (1916-2004)|url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A41494 |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=AustLit: Discover Australian Stories |publisher=The University of Queensland}}
• 17 August – Thea Astley, novelist (born 1925){{Cite web |title=Thea Astley (1925-2004)|url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A13608 |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=AustLit: Discover Australian Stories |publisher=The University of Queensland}}
• 8 November – Peter Mathers, novelist and short story writer (born 1931 in Fulham, England){{Cite web |title=Peter Mathers (1931-2004)|url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A28832 |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=AustLit: Discover Australian Stories |publisher=The University of Queensland}}

• 2004 in Australia
• 2004 in literature
• 2004 in poetry
• List of years in literature
• List of years in Australian literature

{{Reflist}}

Note: all references relating to awards can, or should be, found on the relevant award's page.

{{Years in Australian literature}}

Category:Australian literature by year

Literature

Category:21st-century Australian literature

Category:2004 in literature