Varuna Residential Fellowships offer two to three weeks of full board and accommodation at Varuna, in the beautiful surrounds of the Blue Mountains. Originally the home of writers Eleanor Dark and Dr Eric Dark, the house and gardens were gifted to the Australian public in 1989 by their son, Mick Dark, to be used as a retreat for writers.
Residency dates: Between January – September 2026
Places: Thirty-eight fellowships will be awarded
Who should apply: All writers are invited to apply. We have Flagship fellowships specific to certain genres, identities, regional areas and career stage.
Fees: Application fees are $70 per application, unless you are a financially current alumni member using your annual fee waiver. If you have a Healthcare card, the application fee is $40. If you are experiencing financial hardship, you can have your application fee waived via the Varuna Equity Fund.
Applications close 5 May, 5pm AEST.
For more information, visit the Varuna website here.