Text Publishing

Text Media was founded in Melbourne in 1990 by Diana Gribble and Eric Beecher, along with designer Chong Weng Ho and others, with a small book publishing division known as Text Publishing.{{cite web | title=Twenty Years of Text | website=Text Publishing | date=22 August 2022 | url=https://www.textpublishing.com.au/twenty-years-of-text | access-date=22 August 2022}} Michael Heyward joined in 1992, and the small publishing house became independent in 1994.{{cite web | last=Steger | first=Jason | title=Text Publishing celebrates 20-year milestone | website=The Age | date=14 August 2014 | url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/books/text-publishing-celebrates-20year-milestone-20140815-104c4l.html | access-date=22 August 2022}}

When Text Media was taken over by Fairfax Media in 2004,[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/08/04/1091557910975.html "A very passionate Text life"], Age, 7 August 2004. Michael Heyward and his wife Penny Hueston entered into a joint venture with Scottish publisher Canongate.{{Citation | title=Text Publishing starts its next chapter with new owner, but still independent | journal=Australasian Business Intelligence | publication-date=2004-06-27 | publisher=COMTEX News Network, Inc | issn=1320-6680 }}{{Citation | title=Text Publishing Leaves Fairfax Stable | journal=Australian Bookseller & Publisher | publication-date=August 2004 | volume=84 | issue=2 | pages=4 | issn=0004-8763 }}

Maureen and Tony Wheeler, founders of Lonely Planet, bought Canongate's share in Text in 2011,{{cite news|title=Wheelers, dealers and Melburnians|url=http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/editorial/wheelers-dealers-and-melburnians-20111004-1l781.html|accessdate=16 March 2017|work=The Age|date=4 October 2011}} making it a wholly Australian-owned company.

In 2012, Text launched a series of Australian classics,{{cite web|url= https://www.textpublishing.com.au/text-classics|title=Text Classics|work= Text Publishing| access-date= 22 August 2022}} republishing out-of-print works.[http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/society-and-culture/classics-going-to-waste-20120121-1qb9z.html "Classics going to waste"], The Age, 22 January 2012.

In January 2025, Text announced that it had been acquired by Penguin Random House.{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Kelly |date=2025-01-22 |title=Australian independent publishing stalwart Text acquired by global giant Penguin Random House |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jan/22/text-publishing-penguin-random-house-acquired-publisher |access-date=2025-01-31 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

As of August 2022, Heyward was the publisher.

The Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing was inaugurated in 2008 and is awarded annually. As of 2021 it was valued at AU$10,000.{{Cite web|last=|date=2021-07-12|title=Text Prize 2021 shortlist announced|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2021/07/12/189425/text-prize-2021-shortlist-announced/|access-date=2021-07-25| website=Books+Publishing|language=en-AU}} In January 2025, Text announced that it had discontinued this award.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-14 |title=Text Prize discontinued |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2025/01/14/264443/text-prize-discontinued/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |publisher=Books+Publishing}}

In 2021 Text announced the Steph Bowe Mentorship for Young Writers. It is open to writers under 25 years of age and provides 20 hours of manuscript development assistance and writers' centre membership to the winner.{{Cite web |date=2021-02-23|title=Text announces Steph Bowe Mentorship for Young Writers|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2021/02/23/163088/text-announces-steph-bowe-mentorship-for-young-writers/|access-date=2021-07-25|website=Books+Publishing|language=en-AU}}

Text has won the ABIA Small Publisher of the Year award three times, and in both 2018 and 2019 was awarded the Leading Edge Books Small Publisher of the Year award.{{cite web | title=About Text | website=Text Publishing | date=22 August 2022 | url=https://www.textpublishing.com.au/about | access-date=22 August 2022}}

Notable publications by Text include:

• Eucalyptus by Murray Bail
• Dancing with Strangers by Inga Clendinnen
• The Weather Makers by Tim Flannery
• Stasiland by Anna Funder
• The Secret River by Kate Grenville
• The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion (2013)
• Truth by Peter Temple

Winners of the Miles Franklin Award published by Text include:

• Bodies of Light by Jennifer Down{{Cite news |last=Story |first=Hannah |date=2022-07-20 |title=Winner of $60,000 literary award draws attention to systemic abuses in Australian out-of-home care |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-20/miles-franklin-literary-award-jennifer-down-bodies-of-light/101253386 |access-date=2025-01-14 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}
• The Labyrinth by Amanda Lohrey{{Cite web |date=2021-07-15 |title=$60,000 Miles Franklin awarded to a novel 'soaked in sadness' that is ultimately about hope |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-15/miles-franklin-literary-award-tasmanina-author-amanda-lohrey/100293360 |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=ABC News |language=en-AU}}
• Truth by Peter Temple{{Cite web |date=2010-06-22 |title='Truth' wins 2010 Miles Franklin Literary Award |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2010/06/22/16388/truth-wins-2010-miles-franklin-literary-award/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |publisher=Books+Publishing}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|https://www.textpublishing.com.au/}}

Category:Publishing companies of Australia

Category:Companies based in Melbourne

Category:Book publishing companies of Australia