From 2015, Overland will be edited by Jacinda Woodhead, the current deputy editor.

After seven years as editor, Jeff Sparrow is leaving the role at the end of the year.

‘It’s been a great privilege working at an iconic magazine for so long,’ said Sparrow. ‘I’m confident Jacinda will take Overland to new heights.’

Sparrow plans to concentrate on his own writing, under the auspices of a newly-awarded Myer Fellowship.

Woodhead will announce a new team and her plans for 2015 in due course.

‘Overland has never been in better shape,’ she said. ‘Our print circulation has never been so large, while readers accessed nearly a million pages of the online magazine in the last year. We run some of Australia’s most prestigious competitions, hold major events throughout the country and supplement our print issues with online editions of fiction, poetry, spoken word and digital writing.’

Woodhead has worked as deputy editor of Overland for five years. She has contributed both fiction and non-fiction to the journal, and spearheaded Overland’s online project. She will complete her PhD at Victoria University in 2015.

‘Back in 2003, Katherine Wilson and Nathan Hollier co-edited Overland,’ said Woodhead. ‘But I am honoured to be the first sole female editor in the journal’s history.’