Initially called 'Life and death in the south side pavilion', 'Dancing on the water' is an unpublished screenplay written by Peter Carey and Ray Lawrence. It is based on the short story Life and death in the south side pavilion by Peter Carey first published in short story collection, The fat man in history (1974). Comprises 8 typescript drafts.

Correspondence from 1980 to 1982.

Unpublished play script titled 'A schoolboy prank by Peter Carey. An adaptation for the stage', 9 leaves, undated. The short story A schoolboy prank was published in Carey's short story collections War Crimes (University of Queensland Press) in 1979 and Collected stories (University of Queensland Press) in 1994.

Illywhacker was published in 1985 in Australia by University of Queensland Press. It has won a number of awards and was short-listed for the Booker Prize. This series includes typescript drafts for 'Pets' (Illywhacker) and Illywhacker, showing substantial revisions at every stage and the development of the novel from earliest ideas to finished form. Correspondence, notes, research material and index cards are included. Illywhacker has won the Age Book of the Year Award 1985, Fellowship of Australian Writers Victor - Barbara Ramsden Award 1985, National Book Council Award for Australian Literature - Banjo Award 1985, Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction 1986 and Ditmar Awards 1986.

Comprises notes and typescript drafts, with emendations, for 'Illusion (A comic strip musical)', which was changed to 'Illusion (A treatment for a performance)'. Mike Mullins conceived of the concept in early 1980, and he and Carey worked on the script. Eventually Carey withdrew his name as author and retained only credit for co-writing the lyrics. Illusion, was performed as a rock musical at the Adelaide Festival of Arts in 1986. One draft has the (crossed out) title 'Getchor Illusion' for the Playwrights Conference in Canberra dated 2 May 1984.

Initially entitled 'Holding up the Sky', 'Spanish pink' is a screenplay written by Peter Carey and Ray Lawrence. There are notes, photocopies of the story outline on index cards, a script assessment, notes for camera sequences, and draft typescripts.

Handwritten story outline on yellow index cards, 20 yellow index cards, 7.5 x 13 cm, undated. With typed note 'Cards used as basis of discussion with Julian Castagne at Birchgrove', 6 Jun 1982. Cards and page in envelope addressed to Peter Carey at McSpedden Carey Pty Ltd.

From the story outline, 'The Trial : A new comedy by Franz Kafka' written by Peter Carey, was to "concentrate on the hitherto undiscovered comic nature" of this work by KafKa. Consists of story outlines and typescript drafts with emendations.

Typescript notes, with emendations, for an idea for a film titled 'Daddy's girl'.

Oscar and Lucinda had the working titles 'Orphans', 'Broken Glass', and 'Holy Ghost'. Published in 1988 in Australia by University of Queensland Press. In the same year it won the Book Council Award (Australia), Booker Prize for Fiction (Australia) and Miles Franklin Award. Includes: Complete and incomplete drafts of Oscar and Lucinda and its working titles, including corrections, notes, correspondence, research material, publicity material, reviews, speech notes for the launch of Oscar and Lucinda. Oscar and Lucinda has won the Booker Prize 1988, Miles Franklin Award 1989, NBC Banjo Award 1989, Townsville Foundation for Australian Literary Studies Award 1988, and the Festival Award for Literature (South Australia) 1990.