Want to discover the next great Australian novel? 

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Want to read original Australian fiction that has been forgotten for over 100 years?

You might decide that some of this fiction is best forgotten! …

But who knows?

You might just discover a brand new Miles Franklin or Marcus Clarke!

Click on one of the titles below to begin.

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Below are two lists designed to give you somewhere to start, including (1) Fiction by newly discovered Australian authors and (2) Newly discovered fiction by known Australian authors.

If you correct the text of a story why not leave a comment below? If you discover the next great Australian writer we’d love to hear about that too! If you find a story with missing instalments, find out how to add them here.

(These lists aren’t comprehensive – there were too many new authors and titles to include all the 19th century examples, and we haven’t even begun to add twentieth-century authors and titles – so if you come across an author or title in the database that you think belongs in this list let us know.)

Feel free to dip in and out of different stories, but if you decide to devote yourself to editing a particular title, enter that information into the register here (to save people correcting the same titles again and again!)

 

1. Fiction by newly discovered Australian authors

Author

Titles

First date

Ahearn, Minnie Nina’s Mistake
Aileen’s Troubles
1896
1898
August, John A Commonplace Daughter 1893
Baker, Goodwin From Dark to Dawn: A Back Block Romance 1896
Bevan, Edward Jenny. A Story of the North Queensland Plantations
The Very Best Society: A Tale of Queensland Bush Life
His Wretched Luck: A Story of the Discovery of a Mine
The Recidivistes: A Story of French Convict Life
Bush Crossways From a Buckboard
Captain Jack: A Tale of Modern Buccaneering in the South Pacific
1885
1886
1887
1888
1891
1891
 Bowling, E. J. Our Kangaroo Camp at Rothbury Mountains
Over Many Seas; or, Half Round the World
The McGuires of Ballypossum; Or, The Son of an Informer
1890
1891
1893
Brees, Harold Curlew; or, In Days Gone By 1894
Bruce, Elder A Theatrical Marriage 1896
Congreve, Henry John For Dear Art’s Sake. A Story of To-Day
Change and Mystery
Nulingee: An Australian Tale of Bush and Diggings
Old Roach and His Adopted Daughter
Gordon Balterstone; Or, The Unfulfilled Prediction
Clarise; or, Which Is the Man
1882
1885
1885
1885
1887
1888
Corinda Viola: A Tale from Shakespeare
Madeline
The Last £20 Note
John Marston’s Sacrifice
Murphy’s Man; Or, Between Two Lovers
1885
1890
1890
1891
1892
Echo Dingo Creek: A Christmas Tale of the Yarra Track 1887
Edith Olive Vanstone 1878
Eucalyptus Neuroomia: A New Continent
Alice Laverne
1892
1893
Farley, Rice Plot and Counterplot. In Two Parts
A Double Dealer
1889
1890
Fenton, Alberta L. Ruby 1886
Goldney, Jessie Maria A Woman’s Faith
Isabella Randell’s Dream
Our Carrie
Like a Dream
Esther Vere’s Petition
1876
1877
1877
1879
1889
Goulter, Horace Bound by Love 1892
Gray, Captain East Fortune’s Freaks: An Original Australian Story 1898
Hackney, Esther Thistledown 1899
Harris, Mrs Julia S. From Shadow Land; or A Traveller Returned
Sir Jaspar’s Ward, or The Wraith of Trevor Park
Euphemia Redmond: The Guardian Spirit of Knockmey Hall
1892
1893
1894
Hart, Frank H. Won by Jockeyship: A Sporting Sketch 1898
Heathfield, Alice For Ever and Aye. A Sydney Romance 1879
Henty, Mrs Richmond The Devil’s Own. An Australian Story 1891
Hewitson, T. Remember 1887
Holden, Rev. E. W. John Brown and His Dog Faithful 1884
Kitchen, William Freeman The Mountain Mystery. Or, The Stone of the Sacred Death 1897
Langford, Ben. Franklin The Last of the Montezamas: A Tale of Life’s Sunshine and Death’s Shadows
Madame Delamere: How I found Her, How I won Her, and How I lost Her
1883
1882
Laurie, Mrs D. F. A Christmas Pantomime 1893
MacAlister, Alister Adventures and Observations in Australia 1859
Montcalm, Louis The Wealth of the West 1898
Nottage, John Silvester Ruth Morven: A Christmas Story
Half a Century Ago
Paul Ferrel’s Revenge: A Christmas Story
Singular Passage in the Life of the Late Robert Warden, Solicitor
The Great Golconda Mine
Vidah
Dr Delmont
1875
1880
1880
1881
1881
1882
1883
Nunn, Teddy The Life of a Jockey 1898
Olicana Crowned with Good
The Love Story of a Senior Op
1884
1887
Osborne, Foster Cowabee
My Devil. A New Australian Story Full of Sensational Incidents
1882
1891
Paddy Melon An Episode in the Career of Billy Martin 1892
Petersen, Elizabeth Ida A Whited Sepulchre 1894
Puella Good at Last 1871
Quiz The Law’s Decree: An Original Story 1878
Reynolds, Charles Mistaken Identity. A South Australian Novelette 1891
Roy, John Scotland Lang Syne 1875
Roy, Rich P. Q. R. S.: A Tale of the Melbourne G. P. O. 1892
Sigma Amor Vincit 1875
Smith, Arthur Foster My Campaign in the Trans-Vaal 1880
Smyley, Luke The Romeo Married; The Real Tragedy
The Three Programmes; Or, The Great Divorce Case
The Kidnappers; or, The Father’s Revenge
1876
1876
1878
Stocks, A. Mabel Studies in Bush Life. On a Gippsland Selection 1899
Stow, J. P. Voyage of the Forlorn Hope in 1865 1894
Sweetapple, Anna Mapleson Sowing the Wind
Brought to Mind
How I Came to Australia
A Victim of Intrigue
1884
1887
1890
1899
Thorne, Ambrose The Pity of It. A Sydney Story 1896
Twyford, Paul Weedon’s Folly; Or, The Big Find of Gold at Lodore
Dutchy’s Wife
1891
1898
Underwood, Captain Recollections of a Pioneer 1878
Watkins, W. Found at Last
Vernon Bascom: A Novel
1877
1879
West, Mark Chronicles of Marah. Jim Worthington’s Experiment
Chronicles of Marah. Miss Nasmyth’s Legacy and What Came of It
Blame Shakespeare
Jane
1883
1884
1889
1899
Wilkinson, George Blakiston Yarns on Olden Times 1880


2. Newly discovered fiction by known Australian authors

Author

Titles

First date

Atkins, R. A. Harry Linton’s Downfall: A Story of Old Sydney 1868
Badham, Miss E. A. Society, Friendship and Love 1886
Cameron, William A. Keith Hope 1897
Carroll, Janet By the River’s Side
Theodora Vail. A Story in Six Chapters
Harriette Hurst’s Christmas
1882
1882
1883
Chads, Mrs The Haunted Grange
Fulke Egerton’s Vow
1880
1881
Charles, E. The Rightful Heir. An Australian Christmas Story
Under the Southern Cross: A Tale of Australian Life
Guilty or Not? An Australian Tale
An Australian Idyl
Miss Ingram’s Heiress
The Wilfulness of Winnie
1884
1884
1885
1887
1889
1897
Cleland, E. Davenport Clarissa’s Lover
From Desk to Diggings, Or A Golden Christmas
Phantoms of the Past. A Bush Legend
The Curious Experience of Mr Brownlow Timmins
Dandy Dick’s Diversion
Miss Nomer’s Nonsense
The Coltbreaker’s Courtship
Wininowie
1886
1887
1887
1887
1888
1888
1888
1888
Clotilde Mr Emerson’s Client
Lost
Hazel
1873
1876
1877
Cohen, Philip A Terrible Christmas Day. A True Story of the Olden Time
The First Nugget
1892
1894
Collins, William Adventures of a Somnambulist: An Australian Story
Agnes Meredith’s Birthday Party
1886
1886
Conant, H. A. Carleton’s Luck; Or, A Maid of Omeo: A Story of the Mines
The Colt from Crooked Creek
1896
1897
Crozier, James Feminter; Or, The Aurora Land of the South
Solved by Time. A Story of the Eureka Stockade
1895
1895
Doidge, Edwin The Daughters of Eve. A Tale of the Maori War
Marian Gonisby
1898
1899
Downes, Marion Monica. A Sea-Shore Idyll 1899
Effra Fortune My Foe. A Tale of the Old Land and the New 1895
Egremont, Godfrey The Kennises 1881
Ellis, Edward Mrs Holterby’s Troubles: A Tale of the Day
Mrs Widgery’s Lodgers
1876
1885
Eugah A Real Good Fellow
A Very Sad Event in the History of Mr Jones
Viola Linn: An Australian Story
Whatsoever a Man Soweth
1892
1893
1893
1895
Evans, Henry Congreve For Dear Art’s Sake. A Story of To-Day 1882
Falk, David G. Miss Roberts’s Lovers: An Australian Story
Towser Bill’s Troubles
Gabriel Lobo; or, The Legend of Trodd’s Flat. A Story of the Diggings
The Man from the Territory
A Silver King
The Land of Promise
The Harrow Bushrangers
John Brede, Bushman: Three Chapters from His Life
1883
1883
1886
1886
1889
1890
1891
1899
Ferrar, William Moore The Maxwells of Bremgarten 1867
Grassie, James A Cruise in the Polar Sea
Narrative of the Loss of The Fame
John, the Bishop: A Tale of the Dark Days of Tasmania
1873
1873
1877
Growden, Oliver H. A Man and His Destiny 1895
Haverfield, Robert
Ross
Scattered Leaves from Peregrine Pick’s Diary: A Romance of Old Bendigo
The Romance of the Rallaby Riders
1889
1889
Hawkes, Henry Morgan Musical Mysteries. A Bachelor’s Adventures in Search of a Happy Home
Vane Tresham. A Story of Metmepsychosis
In Sackcloth and Ashes
Three Sons of Anak
Beyond the Seas
An Australian Galatea. A Story of Exploration and Strange Discovery
1873
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
Kibble, Robert Hector Mactavish; or, The Scotchman in Australia 1847
Lane, William As Others See Us. A Yankee Girl’s Impressions of the Sunny South 1885
Liston, Ellie The Stauntons. A South Australian Story 1871
Lockett, Jeannie Awfully Sudden Death 1887
Mackenzie, Harold M. The Verdict Was??? A Story of North Queensland 1891
Martin, Catherine Cadenabbia
Clare’s Christmas Eve
1882
1881
McCrae, George Gordon Nancy. A Story of the Fifties 1892
McLean, Angus Arthur Landon, the Australian Bushman 1887
Merrall, Edwin M. Matty and her Lovers: An Australian Story 1874
Mitchell, H. Williams Love and Death 1877
Moore, J. S. The Bronze Chalice. An Australian Tale 1881
Myers, Francis A Wreath of Poppy Leaves
Sam Morrison’s Experiences
1890
1891
Newland, Simpson Dark Dunmore 1894
Nicholls, F. Saunders The Marvellous Island
The Five Comrades
1888
1889
Nicholson, John H. Dick. A Queensland Story
King Grumpy. A Story for Young People
Lampaspia
Yim Yonson
1894
1894
1894
1894
O’Byrne, Joseph Wooing in Arcadia
Under Southern Skies
1885
1892
O’Sullivan, E. W. Under the Southern Cross: A Romance Introducing Stirring Scenes and Episodes in Australian History 1898
Philpott, N. V. Whom the Gods Love
Sisters Three
Under the Southern Cross
Morning Waits at the End of the World
1893
1894
1894
1897
Poole, Cecil W. P. A Fatal Dream 1883
Samson, E. A. Ada and her Cousin Charles, A Tale for Victorian Boys and Girls
The Patient Husband: A Tale for the Younger Members of the Family
1878
1879
Shackell, Mrs Matched and Mated: A Romance in Real Life 1893
Sherard, Charles Allan In The Wake of Corunna: An Australian Racing Story 1898
Sparrow, Lionel The Loss of the Black Swan: A Tale of Love and Adventure
The Tragedy at Waritungah
1895
1895
St Buxton, H. A. The Old Garden Seat 1881
Stephen, Harold W. H. Alma: An Original Australian Story
Ettie’s Error; An Australian Story
The Bewitched King: An Episode in the History of Bohemia
Goths, Huns, and Vandals: A Novel
In Quest of the Holy Grail
The New Editor: An Episode in the History of Warrener’s Gulch, California
1876
1883
1886
1887
1887
1889
Sutherland, George Danbury’s Agent. A Tale of London and Adelaide 1887
Tom Bluegum The Stolen Bullock
Love is of God
The Kangaroo Flat Revival
The Middle Ridge Appointment
1898
1899
1899
1899
Utting, J. J. Blind Bella; or, A Ride for Life: A New Zealand Story
The Golden Cross
Frank Calvary. A Semi-Nautical Novel
1882
1884
1885
Walch, Garnet Larrikin Jack: A Story of a Woman’s Devotion
Queer in the Head. A Story of an Old Man and a Drum
1886
1886
Waterhouse, J. M. The Prince of Ariedam
On the Wrong Track
Pilgrims from the Seventh Pleiad
1892
1893
1896
Whitelocke, Nelson P. A Remittance Man
Maud’s Troubles, A Love Story
The Pen and the Pistol. A Realistic Love Story
1890
1892
1892
Whitfeld, Adeline J. Madge
Rex
Farmer Mack
Double Ugly
Uncle Turk
The Living Pen
On The Measureless Plain. A Colonial Story
1892
1894
1895
1896
1896
1897
1898
Winstanley, Eliza The Flower of Botany Bay 1879
Wren, Jenny Missing. A Christmas Story
Sir Godfrey’s Decree
A Man and His Money
1891
1897
1899
Wright, James W. (writing as “Captain Lacie”) Barumba Station; Or, Amy River’s Sacrifice. A True and Eventful Narrative of the Early Days in New South Wales
The Tamar Pirates. A Sensational and True Narrative of Adventure of the Early Days in Van Diemen’s Land
Davies the Bushranger. An Australian Story
1895
1895
1899
Wright, James W. (writing as “Ivan Dexter”) From Prison to Parliament
The Mount Macedon Mystery
In the Wake of Fortune: An Australian Story
1891
1891
1893

 

4 Comments

  1. Hello,

    I have edited to completion something like 100 titles over the last 18 months or so, finding material through my own searches – and have only just found this page.

    I can pass on information about the stories that I have corrected as I have kept notes…the question is how much detail do you want ?

    I can supply the title / author / year of publication / newspaper as has been done above and also a brief synopsis and comment on quality if required.

    I would also particularly like to identify those stories I considered outstanding. (There weren’t that many ! )

    • Hi Paul, Thanks so much for your editing! We just received news yesterday that the project has received a grant so this will hopefully mean we can streamline the process of recording ideas and projects. In the meantime, I love getting emails about outstanding stories!

  2. Hi, I see that James Wright’s middle initial is given here as W, but elsewhere I have seen it as J (oseph). Would you be able to clarify that, as I am looking for more biographical information relating to him. Thanks!

    • Hi Steve, I wonder where you saw James W. Wright. If it was in the To be continued database it was an error as we have tried to use James J. Wright consistently. That’s the form of name in Campbell’s history of the House of Massina (Ronald G. Campbell, The First Ninety Years: The Printing House of Massina, Melbourne, 1859 –1959 (Melbourne: A. H. Massina, 1949), p. 127.) and there are quite a few references to James Joseph Wright in Trove, including this one when he gave evidence at a Tariff Board enquiry: “THE TARIFF BOARD.” The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957) 3 May 1894: 7. Web. 3 Sep 2016 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8663867. Feel free to contact me at my uni email (just google Katherine Bode and ANU) if you’d like to discuss further.

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