ABR currently welcomes pitches for commentary essays on topics of political and cultural moment – ones that would complement ABR’s increased focus on long-form journalism. We are keen to hear from writers with diverse backgrounds, interests and expertise. Please send succinct pitches to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Contact

Peter Rose, Editor of ABR: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Please read all information below before getting in touch.

Is ABR open to new writers?

Australian Book Review has a long and proud history of publishing emerging writers and critics with diverse backgrounds and interests. Each year we publish around 300 people from around Australia. Of them, usually about eighty are new to the magazine – a measure of our openness to new voices and talent.

If you want to write for ABR, please read this Advice for New Reviewers in which we summarise what we look for in reviewers and suggest how you should approach the magazine. This is intended to be a practical and encouraging document.

In a separate document –  Advice for New ABR Contributors – we set out how we work with our writers and what we offer them.

Before you approach ABR, you should get to know the magazine if you are not already familiar with it. Find out if its style and content suit your work. If you don't subscribe, buy a few issues or think about subscribing. We look for many things in new writers – punctuality, professionalism, cultural engagement – but we also seek people with an understanding of ABR’s style, content, and direction.

Is ABR Arts looking for new contributors?

ABR Arts covers all the arts – film, theatre, music, dance, art exhibitions, festivals, etc. We pay for everything we publish, and we are publicly committed to increasing our rates when we can. All reviews appear promptly online; some later appear in the print edition.

ABR is always looking for discerning critics and arts journalists. This document – Advice for new ABR Arts contributors– sets out what we offer our journalists, how we work with them, and what we require from them in return.

We welcome expressions of interest from arts journalists.

Does ABR pay its writers?

ABR pays for everything it publishes – print or online. ABR is a proud advocate for young writers and a keen defender of critical standards.

Does ABR accept poetry submissions?

ABR is not currently accepting poetry submissions. 

However, you may consider submitting your poem to the Peter Porter Poetry Prize (worth a total of $10,000). 

Does ABR accept short story submissions?

ABR is not currently accepting submissions of non-Jolley short stories.

However, you may consider submitting your story to the ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize (worth a total of $12,500).

The ABR Patrons Program has transformed the magazine and greatly benefited Australian writers and freelance writers. At a time of real financial difficulty for many writers and diminishing paid freelance work elsewhere, our generous Patrons have enabled us to increase our payments substantially, to diversify our programs, and to foster brilliant new writing. We pay for everything we publish, and we are committed to increasing our current payment rates. If you wish to discuss the ABR Patrons Program, please contact Peter Rose at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (03) 9699 8822.

ABR – Australia’s leading literary magazine since 1961 – is a stylish and dynamic publication. Our support for writers and reviewers takes many forms: increased payments, scrupulous editing, public advocacy, talks and workshops, active marketing and PR, and exposure to our international audience. 

ABR is an independent not-for-profit organisation fully dependent on money raised from subscribers, donors, foundations, government, and advertising. ABR is a bona-fide Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR). All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. To donate to ABR, click here.

In recognition of our Patrons’ continuing generosity, ABR records multiple donations cumulatively. Our full list of current ABR Patrons can be found below. 

ABR Patrons support the next generation of writers 

ABR Patrons support

 •  New creative and critical writing
 •  Increased payments for writers
 •  Three annual literary prizes
 •  Literary fellowships
 •  National arts coverage through ABR Arts
 •  Rising Stars program for emerging writers
 •  ABR Editorial Cadetships
 •  Expanding ABR’s digital archive

(photo by Brent Lukey)Editor and CEO

In 2001 Peter Rose became the Editor of Australian Book Review. Previously he was a publisher at Oxford University Press. He has published several books of poetry, an award-winning family memoir, Rose Boys, and two novels, the most recent being Roddy Parr (Fourth Estate, 2010). His latest poetry collections are Rag (Gazebo Books, 2023) and Attention, Please! (Pitt Street Poetry, February 2025). His extensive criticism appears in a variety of publication, including ABR. Rose writes and performs short absurdist plays with The Highly Strung Players.

Assistant Editor

Dr Georgina Arnott joined Australian Book Review as Assistant Editor in 2022 after a career in academic research in Australian history, biography, and literary studies. She has a PhD in History and an MA in Literary Studies. Georgina has been published as a book reviewer, essayist and author. Her first book, The Unknown Judith Wright (UWAP, 2016), was shortlisted for the National Biography Award in 2017, and she is the editor of Judith Wright: Selected Writings (La Trobe University Press, 2022). In 2021 she was named an ABC Top 5 Humanities Scholar.

Assistant Editor

Will Hunt is an Assistant Editor at Australian Book Review. In 2023, Will interned at ABR through the magazine’s partnership with Monash University, before joining ABR as a digital publishing assistant. Will is passionate about Australian literature, high-standard criticism, and the continuing development of literary culture in Australia.

Business Manager

Rosemary Blackney is Business Manager of Australian Book Review. She has managed a diverse range of organisations in Australia and overseas. Rosemary was the editor of CenteredOnTaipei magazine whilst living in Taiwan from 2003 to 2005. With a qualification in Public Relations, she is passionate about communications and believes that relationships are the cornerstone of business and organisational success.

Poetry Editor

John Hawke is a Senior Lecturer, specialising in poetry, at Monash University. His books include Australian Literature and the Symbolist Movement, Poetry and the Trace (co-edited with Ann Vickery), and the volume of poetry Aurelia, which received the 2015 Anne Elder award.

Development Consultant

Christopher Menz has since 2012 managed the ABR Patrons program and all our grant applications. Prior to that, he had a twenty-five year career in Australian art museums, specialising in the decorative arts. From 2005 to 2010 he was Director of the Art Gallery of South Australia. In addition to reviewing for ABR he has published extensively on European and Australian decorative arts, in particular on the design work of William Morris. He also leads cultural tours for ABR and Academy Travel.

Contact

Australian Book Review
Studio 2, 207 City Road, Southbank VIC 3006
T: (03) 9699 8822

Advertising

For information about advertising with ABR, please visit our advertising page.
For our Media Kit, please contact Will Hunt This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Georgina Arnott This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Submissions

For information about submitting to ABR, please visit our Submissions page

Staff

Editor and CEO
Peter Rose
Editorial
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(03) 9699 8822

Assistant Editor
Georgina Arnott
Editorial, Advertising, ABR Arts
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(03) 9699 8822

Assistant Editor
Will Hunt
Editorial, Advertising
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(03) 9699 8822

Business Manager
Rosemary Blackney
Subscriptions, Bookshops, Accounts
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(03) 9699 8822

Development Consultant
Christopher Menz
Patrons, Donations, Bequests
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(03) 9699 8822

Letters to the Editor

We welcome succinct letters and website comments. All letters and online comments are edited before publication in the magazine. Time and space permitting, we will print any reply from the reviewer with the original letter or comment. Correspondents must provide a telephone number or email address for verification.

Send all letters and inquiries to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Location

ABR’s office is located within Boyd, the Southbank community hub. Boyd is at 207 City Road, near the intersection of Queensbridge Street and proximate to the Kings Way overpass. It is a large, distinctive Victorian building, and is the heritage-listed site of the former J.H. Boyd Girls’ High School. Boyd is easily accessible by tram, the closest routes being the 58 (Stop 114, City Road/Queensbridge Street) and the 12 (Stop 126, City Road). It is approximately a fifteen-minute walk from Flinders Street Station. On-street metered parking is available on Balston Street and Kavanagh Street, and there are several paid carparks in the area.

View Larger Map