Transforming the study of Australian literature through a collaborative eResearch environment

A unique collaborative eResearch programme has been transforming Australian literature research activities in Australia over the past eight years and is breaking new ground in the methodologies being used to interpret, analyse and disseminate data within a wide array of print culture and literary history projects. This paper will present a case study - illustrating how e-research is being enthusiastically embraced by literary scholars in Australia through the AustLit portal. It will demonstrate the techniques that AustLit employs in data management, data analysis and collaborative authoring techniques, which ensure authority and reliability of content being developed. It will also describe how a sense of ownership has been established by the scholars who are participating in building AustLit, and how this has led to the widespread adoption and success of this collaborative eResearch environment