Southerly (journal)

Southerly is an Australian literary magazine, established in the 1930s.^[1][2] It is published in hardcopy and online three times a year, and carries fiction and poetry by established and new authors as well as reviews and critical essays. The Long Paddock is an online supplement, carrying additional material.^[3]

Southerly began in 1939^[4] as a four-page bulletin of the Sydney branch of the London-based English Association, an organisation dedicated to preserving the purity of the English language. R. G. Howarth, lecturer in English at the University of Sydney, was the founding editor and continued as editor until he left Sydney in 1955. He published European and Australian literature together and wished to encourage 'cultural good relations between the mother and daughter countries'.^[1] The focus was on literature itself; the magazine was apolitical and non-ideological.^[5] Kenneth Slessor was editor from 1956 to 1961, and added the subtitle a review of Australian literature, and the academic discussion of local literature continued to develop as a focus. G.A. Wilkes was editor from 1962 to 1986, and Elizabeth Webby from 1987.^[5] It is currently edited by David Brooks and Elizabeth McMahon.^[2]

The title refers to a front of cold air coming from the south, bringing a quick cooling, and tempestuous conditions, after the heat of the day, referred to in Sydney as "southerly busters".^{[citation needed]}

A connection to the University of Sydney has been maintained over the years.^[1] The magazine is assisted by the Australia Council, the Australian Government's arts advisory and support organisation, the New South Wales Ministry for the Arts and the School of English, Art, History, Film and Media, University of Sydney.^{[2][needs update]}

As of June 2019^[update] the editorial staff include:^[6]

• Editor — Elizabeth McMahon
• Poetry editor — Kate Lilley
• Fiction editor — Debra Adelaide
• Nonfiction editor — Fiona Morrison
• Reviews editor — Oliver Wakelin
• Poetry reader — Holly Friedlander Liddicoat
• Fiction reader and administrator — Jack Cameron Stanton

• Carter, David, "Magazine Culture: Notes Towards a History of Australian Periodical Publication 1920-1970", in Bartlett, Dixon & Lee (eds) 1999, Australian Literature and the Public Sphere, ASAL, Toowoomba, pp. 69–79.
• Green, H M. (1962) A History of Australian Literature, Vol I 1789-1923, Angus & Robertson, Sydney.
• Greenop, Frank. (1947) History of Magazine Publishing in Australia, K.G. Murray Publishing Company, Sydney.
• Tregenza, John. (1964) Australian Little Magazines 1923-1954: Their Role in Forming and Reflecting Literary Trends, Libraries Board of South Australia, Adelaide.

• Official website