1980 in Australian literature

This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1980.

• The Australian/Vogel Literary Award: Inaugural award to Archie Weller, The Day Of The Dog; the award was initially given to Paul Radley, who, in 1996, admitted that his manuscript was actually written by his uncle.
• Jessica Anderson won the 1980 Miles Franklin Award for The Impersonators

• Jessica Anderson — The Impersonators
• Murray Bail — Homesickness
• Jon Cleary — A Very Private War
• Shirley Hazzard — The Transit of Venus
• Elizabeth Jolley — Palomino
• Thomas Keneally — The Cut-Rate Kingdom
• Randolph Stow — The Girl Green as Elderflower

• Helen Garner – Honour & Other People's Children

• Damien Broderick — The Dreaming Dragons

• Peter Corris — The Dying Trade
• Gabrielle Lord — Fortress

• Pamela Allen – The Archimedes' Bath
• Mavis Thorpe Clark – A Stranger Came to the Mine
• Robert Ingpen — The Voyage of the Poppykettle
• Ruth Park — Playing Beatie Bow
• Ruth Park and Deborah Niland – When the Wind Changed

• Jenny Boult – The Hotel Anonymous
• Richard Lunn – Pompeii Deep Fry
• Les Murray — The Boys Who Stole the Funeral
• Judith Rodriguez — Mudcrab at Gambaro's
• Gig Ryan – The Division of Anger
• Philip Salom — The Silent Piano
• Chris Wallace-Crabbe — The Golden Apples of the Sun: Twentieth Century Australian Poetry (anthology) editor,

• Robyn Davidson – Tracks
• Allan M. Grocott – Convicts, Clergymen and Churches
• Clive James – Unreliable Memoirs
• David Marr – Barwick

• Kylie Tennant – Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)
• Max Fatchen – Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
• Marjorie Barnard – Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
• Patsy Adam-Smith – Officer of the British Empire (OBE)

A list, ordered by date of birth (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of births in 1980 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of death.

• 7 July – Brooke Davis, novelist

Unknown date

• Elizabeth Campbell, poet
• Ceridwen Dovey, novelist

A list, ordered by date of death (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of deaths in 1980 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth.

• 2 September – Frederick Macartney, poet and critic (born 1887)
• 3 February – Marnie Bassett, historian and biographer (born 1889)
• 18 October – Martin Haley, poet and translator (born 1905)

• 1980 in Australia
• 1980 in literature
• 1980 in poetry
• List of years in literature
• List of years in Australian literature