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| Poetry Society of Australia | |
|---|---|
| Name | Poetry Society of Australia |
| Formation | 1920s |
| Type | Literary society |
| Headquarters | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Region served | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Leader title | President |
Poetry Society of Australia The Poetry Society of Australia is a longstanding Australian literary organization promoting poetry through publications, competitions, events, and community outreach. It has played a role alongside institutions such as the Australian Literature Society, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, National Library of Australia, State Library of New South Wales, and Australian Broadcasting Corporation in shaping public appreciation of verse. The Society has connections with figures associated with University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, University of Queensland, University of Adelaide, and Australian National University.
Founded in the early 20th century amid cultural movements influenced by Federation of Australia era nationalism and international currents including Modernism, the Society developed in conversation with groups such as the Jindyworobak Movement, Dorothy Hewett circles, and the Bulletin readership. Early exchanges involved correspondence with writers linked to Henry Lawson, Banjo Paterson, Mary Gilmore, Nettie Palmer, Katharine Susannah Prichard, and editors of Angry Penguins. The Society's timeline intersects with events like the Great Depression cultural response, wartime literary activity during World War II, and postwar arts expansion under policies influenced by the Commonwealth Literary Fund and the Australia Council for the Arts. Key collaborations and tensions appeared in relation to Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Bulletin, and émigré networks tied to George Johnston and Patrick White.
Membership encompasses poets, critics, editors, educators, and patrons drawn from communities associated with institutions such as Macquarie University, Monash University, Griffith University, Curtin University, and La Trobe University. Governance typically includes a President, Secretary, Treasurer and committees with links to organizations like Australian Poetry Centre, Writers Victoria, Poets Union of Australia, Australian Society of Authors, and state libraries. Regional branches coordinate with councils in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, and Northern Territory. The Society has historically engaged with publishers such as Angus & Robertson, UQP, Penguin Books Australia, HarperCollins Australia, and small presses like Giramondo Publishing and Cordite Books.
The Society runs readings, workshops, lectures, and festivals in venues including Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Writers Festival, Perth Festival, Adelaide Festival Centre, and local arts hubs like Carriageworks and Brisbane Powerhouse. It collaborates with media outlets such as ABC Radio National, SBS, and print outlets like Meanjin, Southerly, Quadrant, Overland, and Island. Educational outreach involves partnerships with schools connected to St Andrew's Cathedral School, Sydney Grammar School, and university creative writing programs led by figures associated with The Wheeler Centre and Varuna, The National Writers' House.
The Society administers prizes and competitions that have affinities with established awards such as the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards, NSW Premier's Literary Awards, Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry, Poetry Book Society, Miles Franklin Award discussions, and regional prizes akin to the ACT Book of the Year. It stages contests attracting entrants linked to laureates like Les Murray, Judith Wright, Dorothy Porter, Gwen Harwood, Peter Porter, John Tranter, Eileen Chong, Ruth Park, and Geoff Page. Winning works often appear alongside anthologies promoted by editors connected to John Kinsella, Jennifer Maiden, Philip Salom, Jackie Walker, and independent award sponsors such as the Perth Poetry Festival.
The Society has produced journals, newsletters, anthologies and pamphlets comparable to titles like Southerly, Meanjin, Cordite Poetry Review, Australian Poetry Anthology, and university presses of University of Western Australia Press, Monash University Publishing, and University of Queensland Press. Its publications have showcased poets associated with magazines such as The Bulletin, Heide Museum of Modern Art catalogues, and contemporary venues like Kill Your Darlings and The Lifted Brow. Editorial contributors have included academics from Flinders University, Deakin University, University of Tasmania, and research centers like Australian Studies Institute.
Membership and alumnus lists have included, at various times, connections or exchanges with figures tied to Les Murray, Judith Wright, John Kinsella, Dorothy Porter, Gwen Harwood, Rachael Briggs, Amanda Lohrey, John Tranter, Rhyll McMaster, Pam Brown, Bonnie-Blythe Rees, Kate Llewellyn, Eve Langley, Oodgeroo Noonuccal, A. D. Hope, Kevin Hart, Michael Dransfield, Graeme Jones, Geoff Page, Pi O, Alan Gould, Ross Fitzgerald, Andy Kissane, Mark O'Connor, Andrew Lansdown, Eileen Chong, Rita Angus, Anna Funder, Robert Adamson, Lesley Bacon, Vic Cherikoff, Murray Bail, Helen Garner, Clive James, Ralph Elliott, Sandra McPherson, M. T. C. Cronin, Hermione Lee, David Malouf, Gerald Murnane—reflecting broad intersections with Australian and international literary life.
The Society's influence is evident in its contributions to anthologies and public programs intersecting with institutions such as the National Gallery of Australia, Australian War Memorial, Sydney Biennale, and events like the Perth Writers Festival and Brisbane Writers Festival. It has helped nurture voices that have participated in dialogues around national identity alongside writers linked to Federation of Australia, debates mirrored in publications like Meanjin and Overland, and collaborations with arts funding frameworks influenced by the Australia Council. Its legacy includes archival material held in collections at the National Library of Australia, State Library of Victoria, and university archives at University of Melbourne and University of Sydney.
Category:Literary societies Category:Poetry organizations