Varuna, The National Writers' House

10/11/2026

We were sorry to hear about the passing of Barbara Brooks, biographer of Eleanor Dark, and much-respected writer, writing teacher and member of Australia's literary community. A memorial will be held on Friday 13 November, from 2pm - 5pm, at Marrickville Library Pavillion. Many of the writers who come to Varuna take home a copy of A Writer's Life, learning more about the author whose legacy lives on here at Varuna. Vale.

09/11/2026

We’re thrilled to announce seven recipients of the 2027 Writer’s Space Fellowship for writers with disability. We received an incredible 100 applications for this program and our assessors commented on the high-standard of the work they read.

We look forward to welcoming Amy Anshaw-Nye, Criss Gidas, E D Jenkins, Grace Hall, Louise Falconer, Shakira Hussein and Susanne Kennedy to Varuna next year.

Congratulations also to these highly commended applications: Emma Rennison, Heather Taylor Johnson and Marlee Jane Ward.

READ MORE: https://www.varuna.com.au/news/writer-space-residency-2027-recipients

08/11/2026

Congratulations to Margaret Simons on the release of Going Digital, out now from Black Inc. Going Digital is a behind-the-scenes look at how Australia’s public broadcaster reinvented itself for the digital age. Margaret was invited for a residency at Varuna in 2021.

06/11/2026

UPCOMING WRITING WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS AT VARUNA
This November we're celebrating poetry and memoir writing. We have workshops, poetry readings and the very first SUPERPOSITION festival taking place right here in the Varuna Reading Room.

We have many exciting workshops and events planned for 2027 subscribe to our newsletter and be the first to hear: https://www.varuna.com.au/

SAT 14 NOV – FELICITY PLUNKETT – WORKSHOP - Making Poems-
LAST SPOTS AVAILABLE
A weekend workshop with Felicity Plunkett and a community of fellow poets ready to read, write and develop their poetry together.

SAT 28 NOV - JAZZ MONEY - WORKSHOP - Poetic Cartography
Join Wiradjuri poet Jazz Money to consider your unique cartography, discover how poetry can reveal the world around us in exciting and surprising ways.

SAT 28 NOV - ANNE MARIE TE WHIU - WORKSHOP - Weaving Poetic Diamonds
Share your creative side-hustle, forming connections between artists and artistic practices across form and process. Discover what happens when we let go of creative silos and let one artform spark another.

SAT 28 NOV - LUKE PATTERSON - OUR COMMONWEATH (WINK, WINK)
Raid the living archive of stories, rituals, songs, sayings and everyday objects, asking what becomes possible when words are treated less as property than as part of a commonwealth.

SAT 28 NOV - POETIC POTENTIALITIES TWILIGHT GATHERING
Be inspired by readings from Jazz Money, Anne-Marie and Luke Patterson, accompanied by works-in-progress from participants in the day’s poetry workshops.

MON 30 NOV – FRI 4 DEC – BENJAMIN LAW -WORKSHOP – Memoir Writing-
SOLD OUT
A five-day intensive workshop with Benjamin Law for writers who are ready to share their life story, outside of friends and family.

Get ready to start the next chapter of your writing journey.
Book your spot here: https://www.varuna.com.au/events

Local writers can use discount code BLUEMTNS

30/10/2026

A wonderful interview with Varuna alumna Pip Williams in advance of the Blue Mountains Writers' Festival this weekend!

Pip Williams on her new book and returning to the Blue Mountains.

29/10/2026

Congratulations to Chris Hammer on the release of Full Circle, out now from Simon & Schuster.

Chris Hammer is the bestselling author of Scrublands and seven subsequent novels, with over 1.5 million copies sold worldwide. He has stayed at Varuna many times, and is appearing at this weekend's Blue Mountains Writers' Festival!

27/10/2026

The Varuna Reading Room is only a few months old and has already hosted some incredible Australian writers sharing their wisdom and skills through specialised workshops.
Writers have a new space to connect with the community, share ideas and find inspiration.

We still have a few more workshops to finish off the year, and we're looking forward to doing more in 2027. https://www.varuna.com.au/writing-courses

Thank you to all the participants who took the time to share their thoughts on their experience of our workshops.

24/10/2026

Congratulations to Tegan Bennett Daylight, who has been awarded the 2026 ASA Medal.

Tegan first came to Varuna on residency in the 1990s as a young writer, and has been involved with Varuna as a consultant, a workshop facilitator and in more recent years, as a much respected mentor.

The 2026 ASA Medal is an important recognition for how much Tegan has given, and continues to give, to writers and Australian literary culture.

Read more: https://www.asauthors.org.au/news/tegan-bennett-daylight-awarded-2026-asa-medal/

23/10/2026

Each year, we award prestigious fellowships named in honour of members of the Dark Family, who gifted Varuna to the writers of Australia. We will soon be welcoming these 2027 Varuna Residential Fellowship recipients for two, three or four week residencies, and we can't wait to see the work they develop.

The Eleanor Dark Fellowship for Fiction, awarded to André Dao

The Eric Dark Fellowship for Non-fiction, awarded to Elizabeth Little

The Mick Dark Fellowship for Environmental Writing, awarded to Anthea Batsakis

The Jill Dark Fellowship, awarded to Samia Goudie

For a full list of the 2027 Varuna Residential Fellowships: https://www.varuna.com.au/news/2027vrf

23/10/2026

Writing NSW and Varuna are pleased to announce that the winner of the 2026 Writing NSW Fellowship is Miranda Michalowski for her work in progress, Bad Art.
Miranda was selected from a field of over 80 entries.

The judges also commended Annette Chennell for her memoir The Social Tundra, and Hilary Bell for her play Tricky.

Congratulations to Miranda, we look forward to welcoming you to the house!