The Varuna Reading Room opening soon!
After more than three decades nurturing Australia’s literary culture, Varuna the National Writers’ House is stepping into a new era, with the opening of the Varuna Reading Room, a stunning new workshop and event space.
Each year, hundreds of writers participate in residencies at Varuna, with many more benefiting from our online writing courses. Now, local readers and writers will be welcomed to the ‘big yellow house’ for weekly author talks, readings, workshops and book clubs.
In its early years, Varuna was a place everyone could come to – there was a real bohemian, anyone-is-welcome spirit to it. With this new venue, we’re able to invite the community back.
From an open invitation to visit the house, to book launches, opportunities to meet writers in residence and workshops, we’re marking this new chapter of Varuna’s life with an exciting program to suit writers and readers alike and welcome them to the Reading Room.
Varuna Reading Room Program
Community Open Day
Join us to celebrate this new chapter in the life of Varuna the National Writers’ House. Includes afternoon tea, opportunities for house tours and readings.
FRIDAY 31 JULY 2026
Time: 2pm-6.30pm
Cost: Free
MEET THE WRITERS: Queerstories at Varuna
Meet the six exciting writers selected for Varuna’s Trans and Gender Diverse Fellowship, as they share works-in-progress and reflect on a week at Varuna developing their craft and sharing community.
SUNDAY 8 AUGUST 2026
Time: 6-8pm
Cost: $20 General Admission /$15 Concession
MEET THE WRITERS: Red Room Poetry Salon
Presented in partnership with Red Room Poetry as part of Poetry Month, 2026 Red Room Fellows Dakota Feirer, Jennifer Kemarre Martiniello, Kerry Greer, Rob Waters, Misbah Wolf, and Sela Ahosivi-Atiola, share their work, hosted by David Stavanger.
SUNDAY 30 AUGUST 2026
Time: 2-3pm
Cost: Free
BOOK LAUNCH: Holly Ringland – The World Beneath Her Feet (in conversation with Michaela Kalowski)
Join best-selling author of The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, Holly Ringland at Varuna to launch The World Beneath Her Feet, her most personal novel yet.
TUESDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 2026
Time: 6-7pm
Cost: $15 General Admission/ $10 Concession
MEET THE WRITERS: First Nations Fellowship Salon
Join us for a night of readings from this year’s Copyright Agency First Nations Fellows, sharing work spanning poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and writing for the stage.
SATURDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2026
Time: 4-5.30pm
Cost: Free
WORKSHOP: Read, Reflect, Rewrite with Roanna Gonsalves
Getting good feedback can transform a manuscript, and giving feedback sharpens your own writing just as much. Read each other's work, and give and receive generous, honest feedback that moves it forward. in this 6-week workshop series.
WEDNESDAY 19 AUGUST - 23 SEPTEMBER 2026
Time: 6-8pm
Cost: $295
WORKSHOP: Scene by Scene with Vivian Pham
Learn what makes a cohesive and compelling story by breaking it apart into the moments that matter. Scenes. A half-day workshop, led by writer and creative writing educator Vivian Pham.
WEDNESDAY 29 AUGUST 2026
Time: 10am-1.30pm
Cost: $165
WORKSHOP: Find Your Story, Find Your Voice with Emily Maguire
A full-day, hands-on workshop with Emily Maguire on coming up with ideas, getting words on the page fast and (re)discovering your writing voice.
SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 2026
Time: 10am-5pm
Cost: $295
WORKSHOP: Perfect Your Pitch with Cassie Gilmartin
Join author, editor and publisher Cassie Gilmartin for an inside guide to perfecting your book pitch.
SATURDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2026
Time: 10am-1.30pm
Cost: $165
WORKSHOP: Dialogue and Subtext with George Kemp
A full-day workshop for fiction writers to deep-dive into the fascinating world between what a character says and what they actually mean.
SUNDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2026
Time: 10am-5pm
Cost: $295