Vagabond Press

Vagabond Press is an independent Australian literary press established in 1999. For almost three decades it has published a range of established and emerging poets from Australia and the Asia-Pacific. Its books have won or been shortlisted for major Australian literary prizes, been praised by critics, and are taught at universities around the world. The press aims to support the production and promotion of innovative new writing and literature. It operates from Sydney, on the lands of the Gadigal, Wangal, Bidjigal, and Birrabirragal people of the Eora nation, and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, water, and community. Vagabond Press has received generous funding in recent years from Creative Australia (formerly the Australia Council for the Arts). The press publishes poetry and prose, including limited editions, rare objects, and the deciBels series, with a focus on Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Its catalogue includes works by poets such as Bella Li, whose collection Argosy won the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards 2018 (Poetry) and the NSW Premier's Literary Awards 2018 (Poetry), and Jill Jones, whose How to Emerge won the NSW Premier's Literary Award for Poetry 2026. The press also publishes novels, such as Eliza Vitri Handayani's From Now On Everything Will Be Different, a portrait of contemporary Indonesia. Vagabond Press continues to release new titles, including a September 2026 bundle of six books by Rhea Cai, Bronte Heron, Ella Skilbeck-Porter, Peter Boyle, Kate Lilley, and Laurie Duggan.

Vagabond Press was established in 1999 as an independent literary press in Australia. For almost three decades, it has published a range of established and emerging poets from Australia and the Asia-Pacific. The press has built a reputation for innovative writing, with its books winning or being shortlisted for major Australian literary prizes, receiving critical praise, and being taught at universities worldwide. It operates from Sydney, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal, Wangal, Bidjigal, and Birrabirragal people of the Eora nation, and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, water, and community. Over the years, Vagabond Press has received generous funding from Creative Australia (formerly the Australia Council for the Arts), which has supported its publishing program. The press publishes poetry and prose, including limited editions, rare objects, and the deciBels series, with a focus on Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Notable publications include Bella Li's Argosy, which won the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards 2018 (Poetry) and the NSW Premier's Literary Awards 2018 (Poetry), and Jill Jones's How to Emerge, which won the NSW Premier's Literary Award for Poetry 2026. The press also publishes novels such as Eliza Vitri Handayani's From Now On Everything Will Be Different. Vagabond Press continues to release new titles, including a September 2026 bundle of six books by Rhea Cai, Bronte Heron, Ella Skilbeck-Porter, Peter Boyle, Kate Lilley, and Laurie Duggan.

• 2026

  Jill Jones's How to Emerge wins the NSW Premier's Literary Award for Poetry 2026.

• 2026

  Six new titles released in September: Rhea Cai, Bronte Heron, Ella Skilbeck-Porter, Peter Boyle, Kate Lilley, Laurie Duggan.

• 2018

  Bella Li's Argosy wins the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards 2018 (Poetry) and the NSW Premier's Literary Awards 2018 (Poetry).

• 2017

  Bella Li's Argosy highly commended in the Anne Elder Poetry Award.

• 1999

  Vagabond Press established as an independent literary press in Australia.

Independent literary press specializing in innovative poetry and prose from Australia and the Asia-Pacific.

• Bella Li, Argosy

  Innovative full-length collection drawing inspiration from surrealist collage novels of Max Ernst; winner of Victorian Premier's Literary Awards 2018 (Poetry) and NSW Premier's Literary Awards 2018 (Poetry).

• Eliza Vitri Handayani, From Now On Everything Will Be Different

  A novel spanning fifteen years, following two young Indonesians who came of age during Reformasi.

• Jill Jones, How to Emerge

  Winner of the NSW Premier's Literary Award for Poetry 2026.

• Rhea Cai, Questions I'm Scared to Ask At Parties

  New release, September 2026.

• Bronte Heron, Nighttime Gardener

  New release, September 2026.

• Ella Skilbeck-Porter, Crescentcrescent

  New release, September 2026.

• Peter Boyle, The Wide Starless Silence

  New release, September 2026.

• Kate Lilley, Throes

  New release, September 2026.

• Laurie Duggan, The New Weather

  New release, September 2026.

• Elena Gomez, All Down, Honey

  Available title.

• John Kinsella, Consolations: After Boethius

  Available title.

• Janet Jiahui Wu, Black Earth, New Grass

  Available title.

• Jo Langdon, Delivery

  Available title.

1. 1Vagabond Pressvagabondpress.net
2. 2About – Vagabond Pressvagabondpress.net
3. 3Bella Li, Argosy – Vagabond Pressvagabondpress.net
4. 4Eliza Vitri Handayani, From Now On Everything Will Be Different – Vagabond Pressvagabondpress.net
5. 5Vagabond Presswikidata.org