This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1956.
For an overview of world literature see 1956 in literature.
See also: 1955 in Australian literature, 1956 in Australia, 1957 in Australian literature.
Miles Franklin – Gentlemen at Gyang Gyang : A Tale of the Jumbuck Pads on the Summer RunsNevil Shute – Beyond the Black StumpRandolph Stow – A Haunted LandKylie Tennant – The Honey FlowE. V. Timms – Shining HarvestArthur Upfield – Man of Two TribesF. B. Vickers – First Place to a StrangerMorris WestGallows on the SandKunduEthel Anderson – At ParramattaLeon Gellert – Year After YearAlan Marshall – How's Andy Going?Katharine Susannah Prichard – "N'Goola"David Rowbotham – Town and City : tales and sketchesJudith Wright – "The Vineyard Woman"Children's and Young Adult fiction
Mavis Thorpe Clark – The Brown Land Was GreenBruce Beaver – "Cow Dance"David Campbell – The Miracle of Mullion Hill : PoemsRosemary Dobson – "Cock Crow"R. D. Fitzgerald – "This Night's Orbit"Mary Gilmore – "The Waradgery Tribe"Gwen Harwood – "The Old Wife's Tale"James McAuley"Merry-Go-Round""Vespers"A Vision of Ceremony : PoemsRonald McCuaig – "Betty by the Sea"J. S. Manifold – "Fife Tune"Vivian Smith"For My Daughter"The Other MeaningDouglas Stewart – "A Country Song"Judith WrightA Book of Australian Verse (edited)"The Forest"Charmian Clift – Mermaid SingingIon Idriess – The Silver CityJack Lang – I RememberRuth Park & D'Arcy Niland – The Drums Go Bang!A list, ordered by date of birth (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of births in 1956 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of death.
28 January – Tim Flannery, scientist and science writer5 November – Gig Ryan, poetUnknown date
Judith Beveridge, poet and editorSusan Johnson, novelistA list, ordered by date of death (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of deaths in 1956 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth.
25 August – Lilian Turner, writer for children (born 1867)