About Varuna

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Varuna is the foremost institution for literature development in Australia.

Originally the home of writers Eleanor Dark and Dr Eric Dark, the house and gardens of Varuna were gifted to the Australian public in 1989 by their son, Mick Dark, to be used as a retreat for writers.

Each year, over 200 writers participate in residencies and professional development programs at Varuna, and many hundreds more readers and writers participate in its workshop programs and literary events.

The Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival is a highlight of the Varuna calendar and is held in Spring each year. This friendly and intimate festival features live panels, digital livestreams, children’s events, and online and in-person workshops.

Varuna’s mission

Varuna’s mission is to be a catalyst for artistic excellence through its unique residency programs and professional development opportunities, empowering the literary imagination at every stage of a writer’s career. Through its community programs, Varuna seeks to foster a deeper appreciation of Australian literature, and to share the transformative power of the written word.

Varuna’s legacy and heritage are at the core of its mission, which is to inspire the creation of Australian writing that enriches and shapes our culture, and to facilitate writing that is celebrated nationally and internationally. Since being gifted to the Australian writing community, Varuna has inspired a generation of new Australian writing through its program of fellowships, writers’ residencies and community events.

Varuna’s values

Varuna is a value-based organisation and its core values include:

  • The writer and their work is central to everything we do

  • We celebrate creativity and experimentation

  • We champion accessibility, equity and inclusivity

  • Our actions are informed by integrity, rigour and the spirit of generosity

  • We exemplify sustainable practice in caring for our cultural and natural assets

More information