Launceston's Robbie Arnott and Hobart's Amanda Lohrey are among the six nominees for the 2021 Miles Franklin Literary Award, which is worth $60,000.

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The other shortlisted authors include Daniel Davis Wood, Andrew Pippos, Madeleine Watts and Aravind Adiga, who won the 2008 Booker Prize for his novel The White Tiger.

The shortlist was announced at a ceremony held at the State Library of NSW on Wednesday evening.

The Miles Franklin Literary Award was first presented in 1957 and celebrates novels of high literary merit that tell stories about life in Australia. It was established by Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin, the author of My Brilliant Career.

Arnott, who was longlisted for the award in 2019 for his debut novel Flames, has been recognised again for his second book The Rain Heron, which is described as "equal parts horror and wonder".

"I feel enormously grateful and honoured to be on this list, and that The Rain Heron has meant something to readers," Arnott said. "I can't quite believe it."

Meanwhile, Lohrey has been short-listed for her eighth novel Labyrinth, which tells the story of a grief-stricken woman who obsesses over creating a labyrinth by the sea.

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"It's always an honour to be acknowledged by Australia's premier literary award," Lohrey said.

Richard Neville, State Library of NSW Mitchell Librarian and chair of the Miles Franklin judging panel, said each of this year's shortlisted books "investigate destructive loss".

"There is, of course, beauty and joy to be found, and decency and hope, largely through the embrace of community but, as the shortlist reminds us, often community is no match for more powerful forces," he said.

Each of the shortlisted authors will receive $5000 from the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund.

The winner will be announced on July 15.

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