MS 8583
Papers of Tim Winton (1960- )



Scope and Content Note

  • Papers
  • 1980-96
  • 3.78m (27 boxes)
  • Access not determined. Part of Series 8 and Series 9-11 (Addition 7 May 1996) is available for reference.

The papers were donated to the Library under the Taxation Incentives for the Arts Scheme in 1992 and in May 1996. They comprise handwritten drafts, typescripts, notes, newspaper cuttings and galley proofs and some first editions of twelve books written by Winton. Series 11 contains correspondence from Winton's publishers between 1981-1996.

Biographical Note

Tim Winton was born in Perth, WA. in 1960. He has been a full-time writer since 1982. Winton has published twleve books, including four children's books. His first book, An Open swimmer, was joint winner of the 1981 Vogel Award. His second novel, Shallows, won the Miles Franklin Award in 1984 and his collection of short stories, Scission, the 1985 West Australian Council Week Literary Award. Winton's other publications include Minimum of two (1987), That eye the sky (1988), In the winter dark (1988) and Cloudstreet (1991). His books for children are Jesse (1988), The Bugalugs bum thief (1991) and Lockie, human torpedo (1993) and Lockie Leonard, Scumbuster (1993). Winton's most recent novel, The Riders (1994), was a finalist for the 1995 Booker Prize.

Winton is married and lives in Perth.

Who's who in Australia 1993, p. 1360.

Series List

  1. An open swimmer
  2. Shallows
  3. Scisson
  4. Minimum of two
  5. That eye the sky
  6. In the winter dark
  7. Cloudstreet
  8. Children's books
  9. The Riders
  10. Collected Shorter Novels
  11. Correspondence 1981-1996

Series Description

Series 1. An open swimmer

An open swimmer was Winton's first book (Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 1982) and was joint winner of the 1981 Vogel Award. The idea was first conceived as a radio play. The papers comprise handwritten drafts, notes, typescripts and typesetting copy.

Series 2. Shallows

Winton won the Miles Franklin Award in 1984 for his second book Shallows (Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 1984). The series comprise research notes, handwritten drafts, typescripts and excisions by the publisher's editor Beatrice Davis.

Series 3. Scission

A collection of short stories, Scission was published with the assistance of the Literature Board of the Australia Council (Melbourne, McPhee Gribble/Penguin, 1985). The papers include handwritten drafts, typescripts and notes.

Series 4. Minimum of two

The book was published in Melbourne by McPhee Gribble and Penguin in 1987. The files contain handwritten manuscripts, typescripts and notes.

Series 5. That eye the sky

The series comprises handwritten drafts, including draft entitled 'Sighs too deep' dated January 1984 and typescripts.

Series 6. In the winter dark

The series includes original manuscripts and drafts. In the winter dark was published in Melbourne by McPhee Gribble in 1988.

Series 7. Cloudstreet

Cloudstreet was published in Melbourne by McPhee Gribble (1991) and Penguin (1992). The series includes handwritten drafts, typescripts and notes.

Series 8. Children books

Winton has also written the following books for children:

  • Jesse: a picture book, illustrated by Maureen Prichard and published in Melbourne by McPhee Gribble in 1988.

  • The bugalugs bum thief: illustrated by Carol Pelham-Thorman and published in Melbourne in 1991 by Puffin.

  • Lockie Leonard, human torpedo: published in Melbourne by Puffin in 1993. The collection also includes material relating to the United Kingdom and United States editions (added 7 May 1996). See Series 11 for correspondence with overseas publishers.

The series includes typescripts of each of the books.

Addition 7 May 1996

  • Lockie Leonard, scumbuster: published in Piper by Pan Macmillan Publishers Australia, 1993. The series includes a notebook and jottings, the first handwritten draft, typescripts and page proofs. Page proofs for the modified UK edition are also included. A copy of the author's inventory for this collection is attached as Appendix 1.

Series 9. The Riders

Published in September 1994 by Macmillan, the book was subsequently published in London by Picador (February 1995) and in New York by Scribner (June 1995). The Riders was a finalist for the 1995 Booker Prize and won the south-east Asian section of the Commonwealth Writers Prize. This comprehensive collection includes early notes, the first handwritten draft, typescript drafts, typesetting and page proofs, copies of the first editions including two audio books, book reviews, newspaper articles and the tape of an interview with the author recorded for the BBC in 1995. A copy of the author's inventory for this series is included as Appendix 1.

Series 10. Collected Shorter Novels

Produced for the United Kingdom market only, this edition was published by Picador in 1995 and contains three earlier novels, An Open Swimmer, That Eye, the Sky and In the Winter Dark. The series consists of page proofs and a copy of the paperback edition.

Series 11. Correspondence 1981 - 1996

This series contains correspondence which the author received from his publishers between 1981 - 1996. The first part contains correspondence from Allen and Unwin (1981-96), publishers of Winton's first two novels, An Open Swimmer and Shallows. The second and largest part of the series contains correspondence from McPhee Gribble (1984-95), publishers of eight of Winton's books. The third part consists of correspondence with the overseas publishers of Lockie Leonard, Human Torpedo.

Box List

Series               Box                                     
1                    1-3                                     
2                    3-9                                     
3                    9                                       
4                    10                                      
5                    10-11                                   
6                    11                                      
7                    12-15                                   
8                    15-17                                      
9                    18-26
10                   26-27
11                   27

Appendix 1 - Author's Inventory of Addition 7 May 1996 Manuscripts and papers for The Riders.

  1. Early notes, diagrams, maps.
  2. First handwritten draft, January 1992.
  3. First complete typescript, August 1993.
  4. Working copy of second draft.
  5. Second draft typescript, December 1993.
  6. Second draft. Handworkings over typescript, November 1993.
  7. Third draft, working copy.
  8. H.A. Willis' working copy for working third draft.
  9. Fourth draft, typewritten inserts, reworked pages, April 1994
  10. Final draft before tyesetting.
  11. Final draft marked up for typesetting with authors alterations.
  12. Typesetting proofs, May 1994.
  13. Page proofs, June 1994. Authors final markings before going to press.
  14. Proofs marked. Publishers master copy.
  15. Discards, tryouts, failures.
  16. Hardcover first editions.
  17. Paperback editions (Pan/Picador/Picador UK/Aust).
  18. Cover drafts.
  19. Publishers Australian press file.
  20. Newspaper articles, book reviews.
  21. Audio tapes, readings of novel for radio. Tape of interview with the author for BBC 1995.