* Items of significant interest are marked with an asterisk.
(This list is arranged in chronological order.)
[Australian candidates for literary fame] [24 June 1824]
An early call for a move towards a more culturally independent Australia, advocating that the Australian intelligentsia be educated in Australia rather than be taught overseas.
Australianism [14 November 1842]
This article attacks what it views as the “bigotry” of Australianism.
* “Australia for the Australians!” [The Bulletin, 2 July 1887]
An article which espouses republicanism and political independence for Australia. Published in The Bulletin (Sydney, NSW), this essay is regarded as an iconic piece of Australian journalism.
[A growing Australian consciousness] [25 October 1890]
An article on the organic development of Australian literature as an indication of a growing Australian consciousness.
[Australia is becoming every day more and more Australian] [29 December 1892]
An article which says that the increasing population of native-born Australians (in contrast to those who came from overseas) see Australia as their homeland, leading to a growing sense of Australian nationality.
Australian Scenery [27 August 1898]
A poem by Agnes L. Storrie which defends Australian flora and fauna against those who have been unable to perceive the beauty inherent in the Australian bush. A longer version of this poem, entitled “A Protest”, was published in Poems (1909), by Agnes L. Storrie.
Australian Universities and the importing mania [The Bulletin, 20 July 1911]
An article attacking the practice of Australian institutions filling important positions with people from overseas, instead of appointing Australians to those positions.
* “Foreigners in their own country” [The Bulletin, 20 July 1911]
An article attacking what it calls “the native-born foreigners”, being those who, although born in Australia, call Britain “Home”. It also attacks the flying of the Union Jack, rather than the Australian flag, over schools and public buildings, as well as on festive occasions.
Australianism [11 May 1912]
A brief item which calls for a spirit of Australianism, within a context of being against “rabid” Socialism.
My Creed [poem by Grant Hervey, 1913]
A poem by Grant Hervey, expressing his love for Australia.
* The present status of Australian literature [25 September 1913]
A letter from Grant Hervey, urging that Australian literature be used as a way to build the Australian nation.
“Australia for the Australians” [by Henry Fletcher, 31 May 1918]
Henry Fletcher opposes local positions being filled by foreigners (arguing that “All their positions could be filled by Australians with Australian sentiments and ideas”), and attacks a foreign superiority complex.
* “Australianism”: A new cult [1 July 1918]
An article on the ideology of Australianism. Published in The Jackass, an Australian Army publication, from the First World War (1914-1918).
* Between cobbers [15 April 1920]
An editorial, which explains that the guiding idea of Aussie: The Cheerful Monthly is Australianism.
* The Lesson [sketch by Cecil L. Hartt, 15 April 1920]
A sketch by Cecil Hartt (1884-1930), regarding Australianism, published in Aussie: The Cheerful Monthly.
“The Lone Hand” [30 September 1920]
The magazine The Lone Hand is recommended for its “good Australianism”.
Come, Sing Australian Songs to Me! [1921]
A poem by John O’Brien bemoaning the lack of Australian music, or its lack of predominance; a call for an upsurge in Australian music.
The Libel [1921]
A poem by John O’Brien which defends and explains the love of Australian flora and fauna to those who have been unable to perceive the beauty inherent in the Australian bush; defending Australia against those who use her, but fail to appreciate her.
True Australianism: The duty of the teacher [5 January 1921]
Thomas Mutch (NSW Minister for Education) asks teachers to encourage students in the growth of Australian sentiment, and to destroy state “parochial differences”.
Disloyalty. Bogus Australianism. Condemned by federal ministers. [25 April 1921]
An example of the viewpoint that to be “Australian” was also to be “British”.
“Australianism” [10 May 1921]
An article about the remarks of Thomas Mutch (NSW Minister of Education) regarding Australianism and the apprenticeship of boys on farms.
* “Australian Ideals”: Lecture by Rev. Father G. E. Herlihy [25 August 1921]
The Rev. Father G. E. Herlihy advocates “inculcating the love of Australia and national sentiments” into the hearts of Australian children.
Popularising Australian literature and another matter [by P. I. O’Leary, 6 April 1922]
P. I. O’Leary supports a call from the Australian Natives’ Association for lectures to be given at Melbourne University on Australian literature; he also mentions the Americanisation of Australian culture.
Australia’s nationality: A critical “stranger” [14 May 1923]
The Rev. T. O’Loughlin advocates for the development of Australia’s sense of nationality, and opposes the hold of Scottish, Irish, English and American cultural influences upon Australia.
Towards Australianism [14 May 1923]
A call to foster Australian national sentiment and Australian national ideals, from the Rev. T. O’Loughlin.
Introduction (to Australian Musical Possibilities) [by Bernard O’Dowd, 1924]
Bernard O’Dowd writes that “Australia is not a geographical expression but a spiritual banner”, and welcomes the literature, art, and music which will create “the Commonwealth That Is To Be”.
The Sydney bridge: Insufficient Australianism [16 February 1924]
Randolph Bedford says that there is not sufficient Australianism in Australian politics, with various Australian governments buying goods from foreign countries.
Australia and self-containedness [4 May 1927]
An article which advocates that Australia should move away from being a nation which depends upon its primary industries, and should instead develop more secondary industries — for reasons of defence, economic and industrial growth, national character building, and the maintenance of standards of living.
* Our poets and our bush: Australian sentiment [15 June 1929]
This article discusses why overseas-born poets in early Australia could not properly relate to the Australian environment, as they were “strangers in a strange land”, which “coloured the whole of their attitude towards Nature in Australia”.
Australian culture: Plea for outlet: Lack of publishing facilities [22 August 1929]
Will Dyson advocates the building of a book publishing industry in Australia, to enable the development of Australian literature.
Australian literature: Publishing company to be formed [5 October 1932]
P. R. Stephensen states his intention to set up a publishing business, to encourage the growth of a characteristic Australian literature and the expression of a distinctively Australian spirit.
Lions in the path: Book publishing in Australia [31 March 1934]
P. R. Stephensen writes about the need for a book publishing industry in Australia.
Dull Australia: A refutation [22 September 1934]
Henry Drake promotes Australian books and attacks those who denigrate them (the article was written at a time when some literary critics considered Australian literature to be an inferior product). He favourably reviews “Landtakers” by Brian Penton, and urges others to buy and appreciate Australian books as a way of encouraging the growth of Australian authors and Australian literature.
* The Foundations of Culture in Australia: An Essay Toward National Self-Respect [by P. R. Stephensen, 1936]
A book by P. R. Stephensen, promoting ideas of Australian cultural nationalism.
Publisher indicts the state of our culture [4 April 1936]
A review of P. R. Stephensen’s book The Foundations of Culture in Australia, published in The Daily Telegraph.
Culture in Australia [11 April 1936]
A review of P. R. Stephensen’s book The Foundations of Culture in Australia, published in The Sydney Morning Herald.
Book Talk: Publicist for Australia [20 February 1937]
An article which is highly critical of P. R. Stephensen and The Publicist, saying that their promotion of their brand of Australianism is carried out in such an abusive and spiteful manner that it is difficult to take their advocacy seriously.
* Editorial: Concerning environmental values [July 1937]
An editorial by Rex Ingamells, published in Venture: An Australian Literary Quarterly.
“Rich Australianism”: Mr. W. R. Charlton’s praise [8 October 1937]
William R. Charlton, editor of The Sydney Mail, says that Douglas Pratt’s artworks are “animated by a real and rich Australianism”.
* Conditional Culture [1938]
A booklet by Rex Ingamells, promoting ideas of Australian cultural nationalism.
Different people: The Australian character: An authoress’s assessment [13 March 1939]
A report on a talk given by Henrietta Drake-Brockman, on the development of the Australian national character and spirit.
Editorial [April 1939]
An editorial by Rex Ingamells, published in Venture: Jindyworobak Quarterly Pamphlet.
Prof. Murdoch urges ‘Australianism’ [16 December 1939]
Professor Walter Murdoch said “If we must have an ’ism (like other countries), let it be ‘Australianism’”.
Australianism [1941]
An article by Rex Ingamells, published in the Summer 1941 edition of Meanjin.
Australianists [4 January 1941]
A review of Jindyworobak poetry.
Australian writers upheld [30 June 1941]
A letter to the editor, from the poet Ian Mudie, in defence of Australian literature.
Australian speech is here to stay [by Dr. A. G. Mitchell, 5 September 1942]
An article by Dr. A. G. Mitchell, in defence of the Australian accent.
“There is nothing wrong with Australian speech” [by Dr. A. G. Mitchell, 12 September 1942]
An article by Dr. A. G. Mitchell, in defence of the Australian accent.
Australianism urged [28 July 1943]
Jack Beasley, federal Minister for Supply and Shipping, calls for an Australian outlook in all walks of life.
The Australian artist [13 November 1943]
Celebrating the success of Australian artists and authors, and condemning the “cultural cringe” mind-set of those whose believed that Australian works were inferior to European and American works.
The Open Road and the Inky Way: Patrick Ignatius O’Leary (1888-1944): Rover-poet and Catholic journalist [2 August 1944]
An obituary for P. I. O’Leary. “He idealised the code of mateship, that first flowering of Australian folkways, which grew up among the men of the bush in the eighties after the failure of the land struggles. Mateship was largely a class-conscious expression of frustrated social idealism. For P. I. O’L., with his poet’s insight, it was a surging of the spirit of fraternity among the exploited men without land. This side of O’Leary breathed an intense Australianism. It glowed like a fire — a camp fire — and his mates were Henry Lawson, Francis Adams, Roderic Quinn, Victor Daley, and the “Bulletin” poets of Australian nationalism.”
Films to foster our tradition: Appeal by Charles Chauvel [11 October 1945]
A film producer promotes the idea of using films to foster Australian culture, as a way of fighting cultural Americanisation.
Political Zionism inconsistent with Australianism [13 July 1946]
A brief article, reporting on Sir Isaac Isaacs, former Australian Governor-General, saying that he considered political Zionism to be inconsistent with Australianism.
One “Ism” For Australia — Australianism! [24 May 1947]
A very brief article, promoting Australianism and warning against extremist foreign ideologies.
War children as migrants [24 June 1947]
An example of the viewpoint that to be “Australian” was also to be “British”. Howard Beale (Member of Parliament) says that Australians should educate migrants “in the British traditions which Australia had inherited” and to be careful about putting a “strong emphasis on Australianism to the exclusion of British traditions”.
* The cultural cringe [Arthur Phillips, Summer 1950]
An article which attacks the “cultural cringe” of those Australians who consider foreign cultures to be superior to Australian culture, saying that such an attitude becomes pervasive amongst artists and writers, and that it is an obstacle to the cultural development of Australia.
How S.A. man wrote 8,500-line poem [21 March 1951]
An article by Rex Ingamells, about his book-length epic poem about Australia, The Great South Land (1951).
Colonialism in our literature: My thirty years’ war [by P. R. Stephensen, 16 June 1962]
P. R. Stephensen says that Australian literature has been undermined by an adherence to British literature in Australian universities, as well as by the lack of a market for local authors in Australian bookstores (along with a large amount of foreign books being imported) and a lack of support of Australian authors by newspaper reviewers. He recommends that the University of Queensland should establish a Chair of Australian Literature and foster a scheme of printing both new and old Australian books.
Our neglected culture [5 June 1964]
An article which attacks the “cultural cringe” as a national inferiority complex. It also calls for support for Australian culture.
See also the related tags:
phrase “Australia first”
phrase “Australia for the Australians”
Updated 14 April 2022
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