SHwf 2026 Gallery
The 2026 Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival marked a very special milestone as we celebrated our 15th anniversary. This year’s program explored a diverse range of topics, from feminism, history, politics, crime and memoir to artificial intelligence, journalism, fiction and the future of storytelling, sparking meaningful conversations and fresh perspectives throughout the weekend.
The Festival also celebrated several exciting firsts, including our black-tie Literary Dinner at Bendooley Estate with Siang Lu and Bryan Brown AM, a live cross to Andrew Upton in London, and a live performance of AI-generated dialogue to open Professor Toby Walsh’s session. Also included in our stellar author line-up was Ainslie Harvey, Virginia Haussegger AM, Gail Jones, Astrid Jorgensen OAM, Yumna Kassab, Bri Lee, Alice Pung OAM, Phoebe Saintilan-Stocks and Lachlan Strahan. We were thrilled to welcome more debut authors from younger generations, showcasing the future of Australian storytelling.
Huge thanks to photographer Greg Jackson and PR & communications consultant Anna Zakaras, for capturing this year’s festival so beautifully. Enjoy the photos!
Thurday 23 July
Literary dinner with Siang Lu and Bryan Brown AM
Close to 100 guests gathered at the beautiful Book Barn at Bendooley Estate for the black-tie Literary Dinner, marking the opening of the 2026 Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival. With Bryan Brown and Siang Lu in conversation, the evening was filled with warmth, trivia, wit and insight, complemented by exceptional food, stunning surrounds and the shared joy of celebrating stories, ideas and connection. A truly memorable evening.
Friday 24 July
Alice Pung OAM
Alice Pung OAM is an acclaimed Australian author, lawyer, and educator. In this session we celebrated the 20th anniversary of her debut memoir Unpolished Gem. Alice reflected on the enduring impact of Unpolished Gem, sharing insights into identity, family and the stories that shape who we are.
Yumna Kassab
Yumna chatted with Michaela about her latest work Goodbye My Love, revealing her distinctive approach to crafting contemporary Australian fiction. Yumna’s books have been shortlisted for prestigious literary prizes, including the national Miles Franklin Literary Award.
Ainslie Harvey
Ainslie Harvey is the creator behind the viral internet sensation Hot History. In her session, history was brought to life with her latest novel Sisters of Scandal, where she uncovers the remarkable lives of bold and unconventional women through the ages.
Virginia Haussegger AM
Virginia Haussegger AM is an award-winning journalist and gender equity advocate. Chatting with Michaela, she talked about her latest work Unfinished Revolution, which explores leadership, equality and the continuing pursuit of social change.
Andrew Upton - Live from London
The day finished with acclaimed writer and director Andrew Upton, joining live from London to discuss his debut novel Krank Fuss, offering audiences a fascinating glimpse into his journey from the stage to fiction, including the memorable story of an unexpected eye-to-eye encounter with chickens that became part of his writing inspiration. Andrew Upton is a writer, director and former Co-Artistic Director of the Sydney Theatre Company with wife Cate Blanchett.
Saturday 25 July
Gail Jones
Gail Jones captivated audiences with a deeply moving conversation about The Name of the Sister, exploring memory, grief, sisterhood and the enduring power of literature. Her lyrical reflections reminded us why stories matter.
Bri Lee
Bri Lee spoke about her powerful new novel Seed, discussing creativity, ambition, identity and the complexities of modern womanhood. As always, her honesty and intelligence sparked thoughtful conversation.
Astrid Jorgensen OAM
Astrid Jorgensen OAM, founder of Pub Choir®, shared the inspiring story behind her memoir Average At Best, celebrating vulnerability, belonging and the joy that comes from finding your voice—proving that everyone has a place in the chorus.
Saturday Night Live! Featuring Professor Toby Walsh
Saturday Night Live! was a dynamic exploration of artificial intelligence and featured the world premiere of Written In Our Voices—an AI-assisted short play that invited us to imagine new possibilities for storytelling. This new work acknowledged AI’s growing presence and challenges faced by artists in today’s shifting cultural landscape. A special thanks to our actors Patrick Brennan and Erin Reedie. The evening closed with leading AI expert Professor Toby Walsh, who inspired us with an insightful conversation about artificial intelligence, creativity and what the future might hold. The discussion was moderated by Nick Rheinberger.
SUNDAY 26 July
Lachlan Strahan
The morning kicked off with former diplomat and historian Lachlan Strahan, who shared insights from The Curious Diplomat, taking audiences behind the scenes of Australian diplomacy and examining how Australia can navigate an increasingly complex and unpredictable global landscape.
Phoebe Saintilan-Stocks
Phoebe Saintilan-Stocks’ work sits at the intersection of media, power and gender. In our final session, we heard from her latest book, The Right Hand, which offers a rare glimpse into the lives of the chiefs of staff behind some of the world’s most influential leaders. Through remarkable stories of leadership, loyalty and decision-making, she revealed the people shaping history from just out of the spotlight.
Thank Yous
“A huge congratulations to Michaela and the SHWF team on celebrating 15 incredible years of bringing brilliant writers, thinkers and conversations to the Southern Highlands. Your vision and dedication have created something truly special, and it has been an honour to capture this milestone” – Anna Zakaras.
Behind the scenes
Take a look at the inner workings behind the Festival. From Literary July flyer drops and countless social media post to interviews and nervous live cross tests - here are some choice moments from this year.
SPECIAL THANKS
Thank you to the wonderful teams that helped this year. Paul Berkelouw and the Bendooley team. Josh Vozzo and the Luminous Entertainment team (especially Callum). The Empire Cinemas team: Dave, James, Dane and Gerard. We couldn't have done it without you. 🤩
A huge thank you to our Festival Partners including: Bendooley Estate, Berkelouw Books, The Bookshop Bowral, Coffee Culture, Creative & Co, The Empire Cinemas, Fermento Bakery, Glenys McLaughlin, Highland FM (107.1), Highlife, Kinchem Hegedus, King Computers, JND, Peppers Craigieburn, Destination Southern Highlands, Simone Joseph, SNDC, and Writers at the Woolshed. Without your generosity, kindness and support the Festival could not continue.
Finally the biggest, most heartfelt thanks to my amazing little team of volunteers, James Norton (my incredible Art Director and 2IC), Saneia Norton (my brilliant Front of House Manager), Anna Zakaras and Jasmine Kolster (our PR and social media gurus), Greg Jackson (star photographer), Jon Collins, Rachel Armstrong, Sarah Dowland, Deb Blackah and of course my mum Roz - you make the Festival a reality! Thank you for your time and extraordinary expertise in making the SHWF so unique, along with your grace and sensational senses of humour!