Eustace, a short story, was first published in 1982 with the novella Child's Play and short story The Prowler. Further editions were published in 1983 and 1999, and Eustace was included in Malouf’s The Complete Stories published in 2007. There are two typescript drafts in this subseries. The first is an early typescript draft, 10 leaves, extensive handwritten emendations, word count on last page, and undated. The second is a typescript draft, 21 leaves, including the title page, handwritten emendations, word count on last page, and undated.

The Prowler, a short story, was first published in 1982 with the novella Child's Play and short story Eustace. Further editions were published in 1983 and 1999, and The Prowler was included in Malouf’s The Complete Stories published in 2007. There are three drafts in this subseries. Possibly the first draft is: typescript, on 25 x 20.5 cm paper, 11 leaves, extensive handwritten emendations in biro, unnumbered pages, incomplete, and undated. Second draft: typescript, on 23.5 x 14.5 cm, extensive handwritten emendations in biro, unnumbered pages, last page has word count and note '2nd draft Sept 12-13-14 '79). Draft typescript: 34 leaves, first leaf has handwritten title 'The Prowler', handwritten emendations, 29.5 x 22 cm, and undated.

Fly Away Peter is a novella, set in Queensland before the First World War, the story of Jim Sadler, a dedicated bird watcher, Ashley Crowther, his employer and Imogen Harcourt, an eccentric English photographer. It was first published in 1981 with Child’s Play under the title The Bread of Time to Come. It was republished in 1982 as Fly Away Peter. This subseries includes “original first hand-written drafts of Fly Away Peter (usually referred to as Birds)” [D.M.]; rewritten first draft in Brisbane; first typescript draft; second typescript draft; rewritten passages in second typescript draft; chapters 8, 10, 15 of first typescript reworked and replaced and afterword to Fly Away Peter.

Fly Away Peter was the winner of the 1982 Age Book of the Year Award.

One page, handwritten in blue ink, with notes by the author on the original handwritten draft that accompanies it. Original first handwritten draft, 12 sheets of paper, some folded in half and written on both sides, in red and blue biro and black ink. From the accompanying note: This was usually referred to as 'Birds'; Written at Campagnatico in 1981; “Birds was originally to be a long story of some 15,000-20,000 words; the opening of a collection which would include 'Sorrow & Secrets', 'Musica Viva' and several more.”

One leaf, handwritten in blue ink, with notes by the author on the draft that accompanies it. Rewritten first draft of 'Birds' story, 21 numbered pages. According to the accompanying note: "Rewritten in Brisbane between March and early May 1981….contains the new material to be added, a second draft of the latter half of the book and notes made for background from a history of the 41st Battalion, Queensland".

One leaf, handwritten in blue ink, with details of accompanying typescript. First typescript draft, written in Brisbane in April 1981, handwritten emendations in blue ink, hand written numbering on all pages (one is missed), 105 [sic 106] leaves. Accompanied by small note about a mistake in numbering of pages numbers 3 and 4 (not counted in total number of leaves).

One leaf, handwritten in blue ink, with details of accompanying typescript. Second typescript draft, written in Brisbane in April - May 1981, handwritten emendations in red and black, handwritten numbering on all pages (one is missed), 126 [sic 127] leaves.

One leaf, handwritten in blue ink, with notes by author on rewritten passages. Rewritten passages in second typescript draft, 5 leaves, 1981?

One leaf, handwritten in blue ink, with notes by author on rewritten chapters. Rewritten chapters in second typescript draft, 16 leaves, 1981? Chapter 8 becomes chapter 9 in final manuscript. Chapters 10 and 15 also renumbered in final draft. With handwritten corrections in blue ink, handwritten page numbers in bottom left -hand corners.

One leaf, handwritten in blue ink, with notes by author on Afterword. Handwritten draft of the Afterword to Fly Away Peter, 5 pages, April 1981. Photocopy of typescript draft with handwritten emendations of the Afterword, 13 leaves, numbered 127 to 139,