List of Aussie publishers

It’s been a while since I updated my list of Aussie publishers, which is still one of the most-read pages on this website.

So, with the end of another year and everyone’s new year writing resolutions back in sight, here are some of the Australian trade publishers currently or soon to open to unsolicited manuscripts.

Read this first

  • Self-publishing and hybrid publishing are both valid pathways to publication, but it still pays to be wary and research publishers that ask authors to pay for a reading fee, manuscript assessment or cost-contribution.
  • Always get legal advice before signing a contract (particularly if they ask you to pay any money). Check out Alex Adsett Literary or the Australian Society of Authors contract assessment services.
  • Most publishers don’t mind if you submit the same manuscript to multiple places at the same time, as long as you tell them. If you’re applying to literary agents, however, it’s best to try them before you submit your work to publishers, and only one at a time.

Publishers

This is not an exhaustive list, nor is it a list of recommendations. For other options, you can also check out the Australian Publishers’ Association industry directory.

This resource was last updated September 2025.

Affirm Press (now part of Simon & Schuster Australia)Literary and genre adult fiction by Australian authors, and non-fiction ‘likely to leave readers (and the world, even a teeny bit) better off’ (accepted first Monday of each month). Children’s picture and board books, junior, middle grade and young adult fiction and non-fiction (accepted twice yearly on the first Monday of June/Winter and December/Summer). Do not accept unsolicited short stories, poetry and/or novellas (details on Simon & Schuster website ). 
Aboriginal Studies Press (AIATSIS)Academic and general work, children’s books, biographies, histories and monographs on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander topics. Submissions were due to re-open in early 2025 (details on AIATSIS website).
Allen & UnwinLiterary and commercial adult fiction, non-fiction and illustrated books about diverse Australian stories, children’s and young adult fiction and (occasional) non-fiction. Not currently interested in poetry, adult high fantasy, science fiction, short stories, novellas or scripts. Accept submissions on Fridays only (details on Allen & Unwin website).
Backroom PressAdult and children’s fiction and non-fiction from or about the Kimberley. Accept hardcopy submissions any time (details on Backroom Press website).
Bloomsbury PublishingAcademic writing. Accept pitches any time (details on Bloomsbury Publishing website).
Bonfire BooksSubmissions are due to re-open in early 2026 (details on Bonfire Books website).
Carrina Press (Harlequin, Harper Collins)Digital-first adult fiction (including contemporary, erotic, paranormal, urban fantasy, science fiction, fantasy and historical romance, romantic suspense, and mystery), particularly from authors from underrepresented communities. Do no publish inspirational or faith-based romance; erotica without a central romance plot; nonfiction, including poetry, essays, memoir or biography; science fiction/fantasy without strong romantic elements; young adult fiction of any genre; general historical fiction; or literary fiction. Accept submissions any time (details on Harlequin submissions page).
Currency PressPlays. Submissions are due to re-open from October to December (details on Currency Press website).
CSIRO PublishingAcademic and general adult and children’s non-fiction about ‘leading science.’ Accept submissions any time (details on CSIRO website).
Downingfield PressNon-fiction, poetry, fiction and pictorial books. Accept submissions anytime (details on Downingfield Press website).
Echo Publishing (Bonnier Publishing)Adult fiction (other than science fiction and fantasy) and narrative non-fiction. Do not publish children’s fiction or non-fiction, scripts, plays or religious texts, academic or specialist niche titles, and are unlikely to acquire short stories or poetry. Accept submissions at various times throughout the year (details on Echo Publishing website).
Federation PressNon-fiction (law and related subjects). Accept submissions any time (detail on Federation Press website).
Fremantle PressFiction and narrative non-fiction, poetry and books for children and young adults by authors of Western Australian origin or whose main place of residence is Western Australia. Work by non–Western Australian authors will be considered when the subject matter has a strong Western Australian focus. Submissions for fiction, narrative non-fiction and short stories will close in December 2025. Submissions for poetry are due to re-open from February 2026 (details on Fremantle Press website).
Gelding Street Press (Rockpool Publishing)Adult non-fiction (sport and Australian stories, Mind Body Spirit; Health and Wellness; Self-help and Gift titles). Do not publish fiction, children’s non-fiction or poetry (details on Gelding Street website).
GiramondoPoetry, fiction and non-fiction. Accept submissions for a short period each year (details on Giramondo website).
Grattan St Press (University of Melbourne)Adult fiction (short story collections, novellas, memoir, political and historical fiction) and non-fiction (‘well-written long-form work that explores contemporary social, political and cultural issues with insight and literary flair’). Do not publish poetry. Accept submissions any time (details on Grattan St website).
Green Olive PressChildren’s books, literary fiction, poetry, food and natural environment. Accept hardcopy submissions any time (details on Green Olive Press website).
HachetteAdult fiction (especially fantasy, romance (including ‘spicy’ romance), romantic comedy, historical, new adult, speculative and science fiction, with a special focus on novels for 18- to 30-year-old readers) and narrative non-fiction, children’s picture books, junior, middle grade and young adult fiction and non-fiction. Not interested in illustrated books, cookbooks, poetry, screenplays or academic works. Accept submissions any time (details on Hachette Press website).
Hardie Grant Children’s PublishingChildren’s and young adults picture books (from author-illustrators ONLY), fiction (including graphic novels) and non-fiction, particularly from writers and illustrators ffom marginalised backgrounds and communities.  Accept submissions any time (details on Hardie Grant website).
Harlequin (Harper Collins)Category romance for a range of series imprints, particularly from authors from underrepresented communities. Accept submissions any time (details on Harlequin submissions page).
Harlequin Heartwarming (Harper Collins)Feel-good contemporary romance about American life, particularly from authors from underrepresented communities. Accept submissions any time (details on Harlequin Heartwarming submissions page).
Harlequin Historical (Harper Collins)Thriller and procedural romance, particularly from authors from underrepresented communities. Accept submissions any time (details on Harlequin Historical submissions page).
Harlequin Intrigue (Harper Collins)Thriller and procedural romance, particularly from authors from underrepresented communities. Accept submissions any time (details on Harlequin Intrigue submissions page).
Harlequin Medical Romance (Harper Collins)Contemporary romance set in the medical world, particularly from authors from underrepresented communities. Accept submissions any time (details on Harlequin Medical Romance submissions page).
Harlequin Romantic Suspense (Harper Collins)Romantic suspense, particularly from authors from underrepresented communities. Accept submissions any time (details on Romantic Suspense submissions page).
Harlequin Special Edition (Harper Collins)Contemporary romance about American life, particularly from authors from underrepresented communities. Accept submissions any time (details on Harlequin Special Edition submissions page).
Harper CollinsFiction (commercial, literary, science fiction and fantasy) and general nonfiction (biography/autobiography, memoir, history, health/wellness, sport, politics, culture, lifestyle, cookery and humour). Only accept submissions from literary agents (details on Harper Collins website).
Joan (Allen & Unwin)Adult fiction, non-fiction, poetry and short stories from authors that have ‘ever had to tick a box for your race, language spoken, gender, sexual orientation, or anything that makes you ‘different’.’ Accept submissions any time (details on Joan website).
Larrikin PressChildren’s picture books, junior and middle-grade fiction, and graphic novels. Accept submissions once a year. Due to re-open in June 2026 (details on Larrikin Press website).
Major Street PublishingAdult non-fiction (personal investing, money management, leadership, business, professional and personal development). Do not publish fiction, children’s books or poetry. Accept submissions any time (details on Major Street Publishing website).
Magabala BooksFirst Nations writers and First Nations-led collaborations. Submissions are due to re-open in November 2025 (details on Magabala Books website).
Melbourne University Press (MUP)Academic and trade non-fiction. Does not publish short stories, poetry, how-to guides or text books. Accept submissions at various times throughout the year (details on Melbourne University Publishing website).
Midnight SunAdult fiction and non-fiction, children’s picture books, junior, middle grand and young adult fiction and non-fiction. Do not publish poetry, plays, horror, romance or memoir. Submissions are due to re-open in December 2025 (usually in the first week of each month) (details on Midnight Sun website).
Mills & Boon Modern (Harlequin Romance, Harper Collins)Glamorous international romantic fantasy, particularly from authors from underrepresented communities. Accept submissions any time (details on Harlequin submissions page).
Mills & Boon True Love (Harlequin Romance, Harper Collins)Glamorous international romance, particularly from authors from underrepresented communities. Accept submissions any time (details on Harlequin submissions page).
Monash University PublishingNon-fiction (sustainability and the environment, science, Indigenous affairs, politics, sociology, popular culture, economics, literature, history and biography). Do not accept conference volumes, unrevised dissertations, plays, poetry, children’s books or genre fiction. Accept submissions any time (details on Monash University Publishing website).
New Frontier PublishingChildren’s picture books and junior fiction. Accept submissions any time (details on New Frontier Publishing website).
NLA Publishing (National Library of Australia)Adult non-fiction (illustrated and non-illustrated) and illustrated children’s non-fiction (up to middle grade) and picture books that have used or will highlight NLA’s collections (with a focus on history, art, photography, the environment and literature). Accept submissions any time (details on NLA website).
NewSouth Publishing (NewSouth and UNSW Press)Academic, general and literary non-fiction, particularly from writers from under-represented backgrounds. Not currently accepting fiction, poetry, textbooks, children’s illustrated books, children’s and young adult fiction, or PhD theses (unless they have been substantially revised for a broader readership). Accept submissions any time (details on NewSouth Publishing website).
Oxford University PressDictionaries, textbooks, and resource books for primary (core maths and English skills) and secondary schools (English, Science, History, Geography, Mathematics, Health and Food Technology, Business and Legal). Do not publish one-off children’s books for the general market. Accept pitches any time (details on Oxford University Press website).
Pan MacmillanAdult fiction (contemporary drama, sagas, psychological suspense, crime and thrillers, historical, literary) and non-fiction (narrative non-fiction, contemporary issues, memoir, history, true crime, lifestyle and health, mind body spirit), children’s books, junior, middle grade, young adult and crossover fiction. Do not generally publish poetry, plays or textbooks but are happy to receive any genre of manuscript. Accept submissions any time (details on Pan Macmillan website).
Penguin Random House AustraliaAdult fiction and non-fiction, children’s and young adult fiction and non-fiction. Do not publish plays/scripts, individual short stories, poetry, educational textbooks, picture books, or submissions from outside Australia, New Zealand or Oceania. Accept submissions any time (details on Penguin Random House website).
Pink ShortsShort adult fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry, sustainable lifestyle and translations with a South Australian connection (details on Pink Shorts website).
Piper PressNon-fiction (artist monographs and memoirs; architectural and design histories, monographs and memoirs; travel, history, landscape and housing (with an art, architecture or design POV); art, architecture, design, photography reference; museum, gallery, exhibition, catalogue publications; film, video and theatrical illustrated histories, memoirs, monographs; and stories of sociocultural, creative and historic interest including translations). Do not publish text books, magazines or coffee table books (details on Piper Press website).
Puncher & Wattmann Fiction, memoir and poetry. Accept submissions between December and January (details on Puncher & Wattmann website).
Running Water Community PressWriting from the central desert. Accept pitches any time (details on Running Water website).
ScribeLiterary fiction and serious nonfiction. Do not currently accept poetry, plays, young adult fiction, individual short stories, or children’s picture books. Accept pitches at various times throughout the year (details on Scribe website).
Sydney University PressAdult non-fiction (monographs, multi-authored or edited collection and research-based books for the general reader in subject areas covered by the SUP series). Do not publish unrevised PhD theses. Accept submissions any time (details on Sydney University Press website).
Text Publishing (now part of Penguin Random House) Adult fiction and non-fiction, middle grade and young adult fiction and non-fiction. Do not currently publish poetry, play scripts, screenplays, picture books, activity or poster books, individual short stories, technical manuals, cookbooks, how-to guides, travel guides or educational textbooks. Accept submissions any time (details on Text Publishing website).
Thames and Hudson AustraliaAustralian illustrated books, children’s books and narrative nonfiction about arts (fine or decorative), history (Australian, natural or cultural), architecture, science, design, fashion, gardens, photography and popular culture). Do not publish fiction or poetry or outside their focus areas. Accept submissions any time (details on Thames and Hudson website).
UpswellNarrative fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Accept submissions on one pitch day a year. Submissions are due to re-open in March 2006 (details on Upswell website). 
University of Queensland Press (UQP)Adult non-fiction (history, politics, current affairs, biography and memoir, environmental issues), literary fiction (including short stories), children’s and young adult fiction and non-fiction, and poetry. Do not accept genre fiction (including romance, science fiction, fantasy, and erotica), travel guides, cookbooks, self-help books, plays/scripts/music scores, textbooks, unrevised theses or conference proceedings. Currently accepting adult non-fiction, and submissions to Stories for the Future (that address environmental sustainability and the climate crisis). Accept submissions any time (details on UQP website).
UWA Publishing (University of WA)Academic and adult non-fiction, children’s manuscripts by First Nations authors and/or illustrators (accepted all year), middle grade and young adult manuscripts for The Spiers Prize (May only), literary fiction, narrative nonfiction and poetry for the Dorothy Hewett Award (November only). Do not accept general adult fiction, poetry, YA and children’s manuscripts (details on UWA Publishing website).
Ventura PressAdult fiction and non-fiction. Do not publish children’s books, poetry or short story collections. Accept submissions any time (details on Ventura Press website).
Wakefield PressAdult literary and popular fiction and non-fiction (history, biography, art, food, wine, the environment, education and true life), middle grade and young adult fiction, and poetry. Do not publish children’s books. Accept submissions any time (details on Wakefield Press website).
Wild Dingo PressAdult and middle grade fiction and non-fiction with ‘an emphasis on stories of individuals quietly doing extraordinary things.’ Accept submissions any time (details on Wild Dingo Press website).

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Author: katelarsenkeys

Writer. Rabble-rouser. Arts, Cultural and Non-Profit Consultant.

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