A beloved Australian literary institution, Meanjin, has been granted a remarkable second act and is set to return to its birthplace of Brisbane. This significant development comes after the journal’s former publisher, Melbourne University Press (MUP), announced its closure in September 2025, citing financial pressures. The cessation of Meanjin marked the end of an era for Australia’s second-oldest literary journal, which boasts a rich history spanning over 85 years.
A Legacy of Literary Excellence
Throughout its storied existence, Meanjin has been a crucial platform for some of Australia’s most prominent literary voices. The magazine has proudly published the works of acclaimed authors such as Helen Garner, Alexis Wright, David Malouf, Judith Wright, and Nobel laureate Patrick White. This legacy underscores the journal’s profound impact on shaping Australian literary and intellectual discourse.
The closure in September 2025 led to the redundancy of editor Esther Anatolitis and deputy editor Eli McLean, with the final issue gracing shelves in December of that year. This announcement sent ripples of dismay through the Australian literary community. Prominent authors like Jennifer Mills, Anna Krien, Claire G Coleman, and Sian Prior, along with former editors Sophie Cunningham, Sally Heath, and ABC Radio National presenter Jonathan Green, voiced their strong opposition to the journal’s demise.
A Queensland Homecoming
Now, in a move that signifies a true homecoming, the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has stepped in to revive and host Meanjin. This is a fitting return for the magazine, which was originally founded by editor Clem Christesen in Brisbane in 1940. Its journey then took it to the University of Melbourne in 1945, and subsequently to the university’s publishing arm in 2007.
QUT’s Commitment to a Cultural Icon
In a statement released by QUT, vice-chancellor Professor Margaret Sheil expressed the university’s honour in taking custodianship of Meanjin. She highlighted the journal’s instrumental role in shaping Australian literary and intellectual culture since its inception.
“Meanjin has been instrumental in shaping Australian literary and intellectual culture,” Professor Sheil stated. “It has provided a vital platform for critical discussion, a showcase of emerging writers and a valuable training ground for leading Australian publishers and editors. We are honoured to be entrusted with the legacy of this cultural icon.”
QUT has pledged to establish an editorial board tasked with recruiting a new editor and ensuring the continued “independence, values and standards” of the magazine. This commitment signals a robust plan for Meanjin‘s future, aiming to preserve its esteemed reputation and editorial integrity.
Reflecting on the Transition
The chair of MUP, Professor Warren Bebbington, acknowledged that the publisher had been approached by several organisations interested in reviving Meanjin. He conveyed the board’s delight that the journal would continue, particularly under the stewardship of a university so attuned to the responsibility MUP had held for so long.
“The board is delighted Meanjin will continue, and in the hands of a university so clearly alert to the nature of the custodianship MUP had fulfilled for it for so long,” Professor Bebbington commented.
Former Meanjin editor Jonathan Green described the news of the journal’s return as a “delightful surprise.” He expressed his pleasure at the prospect of the magazine journeying back to Brisbane, the city where its remarkable adventure began.
“The process to take things to this happy conclusion though has been a little strangely opaque and mysterious,” Green remarked. “We may never know why it was that the University of Melbourne turfed Meanjin out, but at least the saga ends well. Meanjin is an important piece of connective tissue between almost 90 years of written Australian thought. Its loss would have been more than tragic; it would have been derelict.”
A Victory for Australian Literature
Academic Ben Eltham, a long-time contributor to Meanjin, echoed this sentiment, calling the journal’s revival a “victory for everyone who fought to save this vital masthead for the future of Australian literature.” He emphasised the critical role of literary journals in preserving national narratives.
“The history of a nation is written by its authors and poets, and Meanjin has always been one of their most important venues,” Eltham stated.
Eltham also called for accountability from Professor Bebbington and the University of Melbourne’s governing council regarding the decision to close Meanjin. “There must be accountability for the vandals who tried to wreck Meanjin,” he urged.
A Supportive Landscape for Literary Journals
The revitalisation of Meanjin by QUT arrives at a time when support for literary journals is gaining momentum. Creative Australia has recently established a dedicated fund for these publications, offering grants ranging from $15,000 to $50,000. These grants are designed to assist magazines in enhancing their digital infrastructure and bolstering their editorial capacity, a crucial step in ensuring the continued vibrancy of Australia’s literary landscape.
