Overland – Australia’s only radical literary magazine – has been showcasing brilliant and progressive fiction, poetry, nonfiction and art since 1954. The magazine has published some of Australia’s most iconic writers, and continues to give space to underrepresented voices and brand-new literary talent every single day.

In 2019, Overland is a quarterly print journal (publishing essays, stories and poetry), and an online magazine publishing cultural commentary each week day, as well as occasional special online editions of fiction and poetry. The magazine also holds events, discussions and debates, hosts a number of major literary competitions, and runs a residency for underrepresented writers.

Overland’s mission is to foster new, original and progressive writing exploring the relationship between politics and culture, especially literature, and to bring that work to as many people as possible. Editorially, Overland is committed to publishing underrepresented perspectives on issues rarely given space in traditional media.

In Overland’s very first edition in 1954, Stephen Murray-Smith noted that the magazine would ‘publish poetry and short stories, articles and criticism by new and by established writers. It will aim high … [but] will make a special point of developing writing talent in people of diverse backgrounds. We ask of our readers, however inexpert, that they write for us; that they share our love of living, our optimism, our belief in the traditional dream of a better Australia.’

Sixty-five years on, Overland maintains this founding editorial vision, though the outlook is more global. The magazine continues to document lesser-known stories and histories, dissect media hysteria and dishonesty, debunk the populist hype of politicians, give a voice to those whose stories are otherwise marginalised, misrepresented or ignored, and point public debate in alternative directions.

Overland accepts unsolicited writing for both the print and online journals, and is committed to paying all its writers.

Overland is published by a not-for-profit organisation on the Register of Cultural Organisations. It depends on its community for support. If you like what you read, please take out a subscription.

 

Staff

Editor-in-chief: Jacinda Woodhead

General manager: Alex Skutenko

Editor – online magazine: Giovanni Tiso

Editor – fiction: Claire Corbett

Editor – poetry: Toby Fitch

Consulting editor: John Marnell

Contributing editor: Sam Wallman

Contributing editor – fiction: Oliver Driscoll

Publicity officer: Rachael McGuirk

Website producer: Benjamin Laird

Graphic designer: Lynley Eavis

 

Publisher

O L Society Limited, ABN 78 007 402 673.
Room T220 Building T, Victoria University, Nicholson Street, Footscray VIC 3011.
Incorporated in Victoria.

Distributor

If you would like to stock Overland, or to purchase a copy, please contact us directly at overland@vu.edu.au. Alternatively, see our list of current stockists.

Patrons

Hon Barry Jones AO: Professorial Fellow in the Faculty of Education at University of Melbourne, former Minister for Science; former National President of the ALP.

Board

Dr Bronwyn Cran (chair): Former Dean, College of Arts, Victoria University.
Dr Jacinda Woodhead: Editor of Overland.
Benjamin Laird (secretary): computer programmer; electronic poet; former Geek-in-Residence at Australian Poetry; PhD candidate RMIT University.
Andrew Leggatt (treasurer): Purchasing Operations Manager – Amazon Commercial Services Australia.
Dr Nathan Hollier: Former editor of Overland, Director of Monash University Publishing.
Alex Skutenko: Overland’s general manager and publisher.
David Murray-Smith: Senior Projects Adviser, Department of Justice & Regulation (Victoria); background in youth and community work; policy analysis.
Jeannie Rea: Senior Lecturer in Arts & Humanities Victoria University. Former National President of National Tertiary Education Union.

 

Overland is a member of SPN: the Small Press Network.