This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1971.

A list, ordered by date of birth (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of births in 1971 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of death.

• 18 November – Leigh Redhead, novelist

Unknown date

• Libby Hart, poet^[7]
• James Ley, literary critic and founder of the Sydney Review of Books^[8]
• John Mateer, poet and author (in South Africa)^[9]

A list, ordered by date of death (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of deaths in 1971 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth.

• 3 February – Richard Harry Graves, poet and novelist (born 1897)^[10]
• 11 March — Frank Clune, novelist and travel writer (born 1893)^[11]
• 10 June — Maysie Coucher Greig, writer of romantic novels and thrillers (born 1901)^[12]
• 30 June – Kenneth Slessor, poet (born 1901)^[13]
• 11 September – Hilda Bridges, novelist and short story writer (born 1881)^[14]
• 7 November – Minnie Agnes Filson, poet (born 1898)^[15]

Unknown date

• G. C. Bleeck – novelist (born 1907)^[16]

• 1971 in Australia
• 1971 in literature
• 1971 in poetry
• List of years in Australian literature
• List of years in literature