The central figure of Harland’s Half Acre, Frank Harland, is another study of the artist-figure which continues to intrigue Malouf. Partly structured like Johnno and An Imaginary Life around two opposite individuals, the novel returns to the lush, exotic world of Queensland with a chronological narrative covering several decades. From his youth Harland is obsessed with the need to reclaim his family’s lost inheritance, the pastoral land with the nostalgic name Killarney. The dream turns sour when tragedy intervenes but Harland grows to understand that he has created another unexpected but more real legacy in his art. Harland’s Half Acre was first published in 1984. This subseries consists of two notebooks of 200 pages each with background material, notes and drafts, correspondence, various typescript drafts with handwritten corrections and additions, and a complete typescript of the finished novel.

Typescript notes and drafts for the short story He found her in late summer, yellow paper, with emendations, undated.

Correspondence and documents relating to Helena White, daughter of William Duckett White. It also includes documents relating to the Mylnes family (known as the Lota Mylnes) and self-published copy of 'The Lota Magazine' December 1988, produced for a family reunion.

Photocopy of unpublished short story by Peter Carey, returned to him by Rogers, Coleridge & White Ltd.

Two typescript drafts and two incomplete carbon typescript drafts of the short story I know you can talk.

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.

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.

Typescript, with handwritten emendations, 61 leaves, undated. With an attached annotated compliments slip to Peter Carey from Cait Buckley, The Almost Managing Co. Pty Ltd.