March 6, 7, 8 & 9, 2025 Scone NSW

Sunday March 9, 2025

Bush Poets ‘Breakfast 2025

The Bush Poets Breakfast showcases seasoned voices through to fresh talent. Feeling inspired? Step up and become a ‘pop-up’ poet yourself!
March 7, 8, & 9, 2025

Scone Literary Festival 2025

Buckle up for the most inclusive, hands on Literary Festival ever with a theme of sustainability.
SEE ONLINE Program
Book tickets
Download printable Program

Celebrating all Word Makers!

Held in the Upper Hunter every two years, the Scone Literary Festival is a three-day celebration of words, creativity and communication.

Bringing together a diverse collection of Word Makers from all over the world, participants will experience positive conversations and robust debates. The Festival provides an invaluable sense of community connection, and supports endeavours of emerging artists and wordsmiths of all genres.

Our organisation also hosts the Patrick White Oration, member events, creative and community events, small group workshops, writing competitions and in school author visits.

About The Festival
Upcoming Events

Our overarching theme for 2025 is Sustainability

Sustainability of Me, Sustainability of We (our community), Sustainability of Us (our nation), Sustainability of the Planet.

We will be providing opportunities to engage in panel discussions, conversations, hands on workshops and entertainment. Word makers will connect with word lovers and share their stories and insights, with time for many laughs and plenty of fun along the way!

Here's just a snippet of the talent we have to entertain and educate you this year. Check the full list and read about them on our Authors and Guests page.

Heather Ewart
Georgie Collinson
Geraldine Doogue
Tim Ayliffe
Authors and Guests
Our Supporters
Register Now

2025 Festival Program

Thursday March 6

Find out more about each event or guest by clicking on their name. To reveal full program details on mobile, please scroll across the page

When
What
Who
Where

Thursday March 6, 6.30-8.30pm

Scone Arts & Crafts Hall


Friday March 7

When
What
Who
Where

Friday March 7, 9.30-11am

Cancelled
Friends and Family Wellbeing 
Cancelled due to Cyclone Alfred
Morning tea with Georgie Collinson
Cancelled
Scone Arts & Crafts Hall

Friday March 7, 9.30am- 3pm

Early Readers Program
Paula Stevenson, Marcelle Moore

Sponsored by Godolphin Stud

Local Schools

Friday March 7, 10am-11.30am

Roving Poets and Performers
Roving poetry and entertainment with Jean Paul Bell and Tug Dumbley
Strathearn aged care, & Murruvale Aged care facility

Friday March 7, 10.30am-2.30pm

Facilitated by Jo Riccioni

Sponsored by Godolphin Stud

Scone Grammar

Friday March 7, 10am- 3pm

High School Author visits
Jeremy Lachlan

Sponsored by Godolphin Stud

Scone Grammar School, Scone High School, St Joseph’s High School

Friday March 7, 10.00am- 12.00am

LinkedIn specialist Lucy Bingle and Marketing strategist Louisa Bragg

Must register online- Free workshop
Upper Hunter Shire Council

Friday March 7, 12 noon- 2pm

Merriwa Literary Lunch

hosted by the CWA with special guest Ryan Butta

Merriwa CWA - Single Ticket Event

Friday March 7, 12 noon- 2.30pm

Suzanne Leal

Sponsored by Godolphin Stud

Hunter Warbirds
Must register online- Free workshop


Saturday March 8

When
What
Who
Where

Saturday March 8.45am

Welcome to Country
Richie Lawton
Scone Grammar School

Saturday March 8, 9.15am

Opening of the 2025 Festival ‘Sustainability- me, we, us,The Planet’
Sal O'Regan
Scone Grammar School

Saturday March 8, 9.30am- 10.30am

Scone Grammar School

Saturday March 8, 10.40am- 11.30am

Visual Storytelling and Looking through the Lens
Scone Grammar School

Saturday March 8, 10.40am- 11.30am

Scone Arts & Crafts Hall

Saturday March 8, 11.40am- 12.40am

Scone Grammar School

Saturday March 8, 11.40am- 12.40am

Crime Fiction - A Source of Sustenance?

Scone Arts & Crafts Hall

Saturday March 8, 12.40pm- 1.40pm

Lunch 

Book signings - books available at the festival bookshop, Scone Arts and Crafts

Refreshments and lunch available- Scone CWA

Scone Arts & Crafts Hall

Saturday March 8, 1.45pm- 2.45pm

Anthea Fawcett in conversation with Dr Anika Molesworth and Dr Catherine Chicken

Scone Grammar School

Saturday March 8, 2.45pm- 3.45pm

How the Light Gets In

Scone Arts & Crafts Hall

Saturday March 8, 2.45pm- 3.45pm

Don’t Look Away!

Scone Grammar School

Saturday March 8, 4pm- 4.45pm


Pip Murray in conversation with Heather Ewart

Pip Murray, Heather Ewart

Scone Arts & Crafts Hall

Saturday March 8, From 5pm

Shopping, book signings

drinks and entertainment at Scone Arts and Crafts

Dinner and wine available for purchase thanks to Greengrocer Catering and Emma’s Cottage Wines
Scone Arts & Crafts Hall

Saturday March 8, 5.30pm- 7.30pm 

Small Town Coal by Geophyte.com
Whip, Rev and Barrel- ‘Slightly Dangerous Passions’ by Merri May Gill
‘Seeds’ by School for Life Foundation
Enjoy pop-up interval with Tug Dumbley and Jean Paul Bell
Scone Arts & Crafts Hall


Sunday March 9

When
What
Who
Where

Sunday March 9, 7.30am- 8.30am

Self First Yoga
Free & All Welcome
Scone Grammar School

Sunday March 9, 8.30am onwards

Westpac Helicopter Bush Poets' Breakfast
Roving Poets of all Ages
Scone Arts & Crafts Hall

Sunday March 9, 9.45am

Book Launch
“The Way We Were” Scone’s Historical Tapestry 1825 – 2025
Scone Arts & Crafts Hall

Sunday March 9, 10.45am - 11.15am

Scott Bevan sharing insights and musings about Return to the Hunter

Scone Arts & Crafts Hall

Sunday March 9, 11.15am

The Horse Capital of Australia….Why the Darn Horse? 
Moderator- Scott Bevan 
Heather Ewart, Allison Sedgwick and Sarah Bishop
Scone Arts & Crafts Hall

Friday March 7, 12 noon

Festival Close


*Program is subject to change

Download Program

Bringing People Together

Our little Festival draws big names in the literary and creative worlds.

We encourage BIG questions, open robust conversation and FUN! Diversity of expression means that we celebrate words in all their forms – through books, podcasts, song, film, art, advocacy or verse.

We will be providing opportunities to engage in panel discussions, conversations, hands on workshops and entertainment. Word makers will connect with word lovers and share their stories and insights.

Support the Festival
Connecting People

Upcoming Events

March 7, 8, & 9, 2025
Scone Literary Festival 2025
Buckle up for the most inclusive, hands on Literary Festival ever with a theme of sustainability.
Thursday March 6th, 2025
Well Being Literacy Forum
Where There's a Will and the Scone Literary Festival work in partnership, bringing discussions of wellbeing, teaching community members the balance of life’s highs and lows, building resilience and discovering their happiness set point.
Friday March 7th, 2025
Primary Writers Workshop
Open to enthusiastic writers from all primary schools in the Upper Hunter, dive into the world of imaginative writing as we explore how to find the perfect starting point, craft captivating fantasy "sizzlers," and master the mechanics of building a great story.
Friday March 7th, 2025  
Emerging Writers Workshop
Discover your voice and refine your craft at our Adult Writers Workshop, designed for writers at every stage of their journey.
Friday March 7th, 2025,
Amplify your Brand
Unlock the power of storytelling to amplify your brand through this immersive workshop that will revolutionise your approach to brand storytelling. 
Saturday March 8, 2025
International Women’s Day address
How better to spend International Women's day than being inspired by Geraldine Doogue at the Scone Literary Festival
More Events
Bringing People Together
Register Now

Connecting all who have a love of words!

Uncovering, promoting and enhancing emerging writers, is our passion. All words have a place in our festival.

We also encourage those who've already 'made it' to share their experiences and enjoy a Festival that is truly unique. We love all genres of writing; the real, the unreal, historical fiction, romance, crime, humour, graphic, sci fi, fantasy, mystery, satire, short story, magical realism, young adult, drama, fairy tale.

We're about celebrating literary endeavours that improve the human experience!

SHARE YOUR IDEAS
Our Past Guests

Sarah Barrie

Richard Glover

John O’Brien

Rae Cairns  

General Sir Peter Cosgrove AK, AC (Mil) CVO, MC (Retd)

Debra Oswald

Alexandra Joel

Dominic Smith

Michael Burge

Suzanne Leal

James McKenzie Watson

Daisy Turnbull

Toby Roberts

Jo Riccioni

Chanel Contos

Tug Dumbly

CATHERINE HICKSON – ARTIST

Jacinta Parsons

Lucy Bingle  

Hamish Guiana

Jean-Paul Bell

Katrina McKelvey

PENNY DUNSTON – ARTIST

Tom Harkin

PATRICE NEWELL

Michael Reid

Paula Bevan

Camille Bianchi

Lucy Bloom

Catherine Armitage

Mandy Bishop

Tim Elliott

Oli Le Lievre

Robbie Christmas

Wendy McCarthy, AO

Hattie Archibald

Lucy Turnbull AO

Anthea Fawcett

Richard Anderson

Kate Mailer

Stacey McEwan

Janno Mclaughlin

Hilary Bell

Paula Stevenson

Merri-May Gill

Hugo Morgan

Catherine Menage

Emily Grainger

Nardi Simpson

Erina Reddan

ROB COOPER

Joanne Fedler

Lauren Forner

Ryan Butta

Jonathan Biggins

Malcolm Turnbull AC

Janie Jordan

Antonia Pesenti

Kat Vella

Some of the authors, artists, podcasters, journalists and performers that have graced our Festival so far.

Authors and Guests
Our Supporters
Register Now

A big thankyou to all of our supporters

Support our 2025 festival with a donation, sponsorship, in-kind support or by becoming a Friend of the Festival, we’d love to have you. All support is greatly appreciated, it really takes a village to put on our festival!

Support the Festival
Contact Us