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.”

Correspondence to David Malouf regarding the opera Voss:

1. Peter Hemmings to Malouf, 1p, 20 Mar 1979
2. Peter Hemmings to Malouf, 1p, 23 May 1979
3. Tim Curnow (Curtis Brown) to Malouf, 1p, 14 Jun 1979, includes two letters from Peter Hemming to Curnow
4. Antony Jeffrey to Malouf, 2p, 17 Aug 1979
5. Peter Hemmings to Malouf, 1p, 6 Sep 1979
6. Antony Jeffrey to Malouf, 1p, 18 Sep 1979
7. Jim Sherman to Malouf, postcard, 8 Oct 1979
8. Antony Jeffrey to Malouf, 1p, 13 Oct 1979
9. Richard Meale to Malouf, 2p, 13 Oct 1979
10. Richard Meale to Malouf, 2p, 16 Jun 1980
11. Antony Jeffrey to Malouf, 2p, 8 Jul 1980
12. Richard Meale to Malouf, 3p, 14 Mar 1981
13. Richard Meale to Malouf, 2p, 11 Aug 1981
14. Copy of letter from Moffatt Oxenbould, Artistic Administrator, Australian Opera to Tim Curnow regarding the contract for Voss, 1p, 2 Jun 1983
15. Richard Meale to Malouf, 1p, 4 Jul 1983
16. Stuart Challender to Malouf, 1p, 22 Apr 1986
17. Jim Sharman to Malouf, 4p, 29 Apr 1986

Correspondence, incoming, from 1992:
1992 – 36 letters: Luci Arrighi (1); Murray Bail (3); Alison Clark (2); Nin Dutton (1); David Marr (1); Others (28).

Correspondence, incoming, from 1993:
1993 – 46 letters: Dymphna Clark (4); Don Dunstan (1); Geoffrey Dutton and Robin Lucas (1); Nin Dutton (2); Nick Enright (2); Kate Grenville (1); Thomas Keneally (23 Sep 1993); Others (34).

Draft, version 12, 117 leaves. The first five pages in two different versions, with handwritten emendations. Accompanied by a photocopy of a three-page letter from Ihab Hassan, 20 May 2007, with feedback on the manuscript.

Correspondence, incoming, from 1994:
1994 – 45 letters: Murray Bail (2); Geoffrey Dutton (1); Nick Enright (1); Elizabeth Jolley (1); Manoly Lascaris (1); David Rowbotham (1)
Phyllis Webb (4); Others (34).

Correspondence, incoming, from 1995:
1995 – 17 letters: Michael Berkeley (1); Geoffrey Dutton (1); Robyn Davidson (1); Others (14).

Correspondence, incoming, from 1996:
1996 – 42 letters: Dymphna Clark (1); Geoffrey Dutton (1); Nin Dutton (1); Nick Enright (1); Elizabeth Jolley (1); Kate Grenville (1); David Marr (1); David Rowbotham (1); Others (34).

Correspondence, incoming, from 1997:
1997 – 31 letters: Dymphna Clark (1); Margaret Olley (31 Jan - enclosing a photograph of Malouf and Philip Bacon); Others (29)

Correspondence, incoming, from 1998:
1998 – 39 letters: Carmen Callil (11 Jul 1998); Ian Callinan (26 Nov 1998); Dymphna Clark (7 Feb, 9 Aug 1998); Don Dunstan and Steven Cheng (1); Geoffrey Dutton (9 Sep 1998 – eight days before his death); Nin Dutton (10 Sep, 26 Sep 1998); Margaret Olley (21 Dec 1998 – enclosing a photograph of Malouf and unknown); David Rowbotham (14 Dec 1998); Lurline Stuart (27 Sep 1998 – ten days after Geoffrey Dutton’s death); Others (27).