The New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards, also known as the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, were first awarded in 1979. They are among the richest literary awards in Australia. Notable prizes include the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction, the Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry, and the Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction.[1]

As of 2019, the Awards are presented by the NSW Government and administered by the State Library of New South Wales in association with Create NSW, with support of Multicultural NSW and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Total prize money in 2019 was up to A$305,000, with eligibility limited to writers, translators and illustrators with Australian citizenship or permanent resident status.[2]

History

The NSW Premier's Literary Awards were established in 1979 by the New South Wales Premier Neville Wran. Commenting on its purpose, Wran said: "We want the arts to take, and be seen to take, their proper place in our social priorities. If governments treat writers and artists with respect and understanding, the community will be more likely to do the same."[3] They were the first set of premier's awards offered in Australia.[1]

The awards were not presented in 1998 as the eligibility dates were amended.[4]

Judging

The winners of most of the prizes and awards are decided by a judging panel, with no input from Create NSW (former Arts NSW) or the New South Wales Government. The names of each year's judges are not announced until the final winners are decided. The judging has been the subject of controversy in the past, when in 2010, the panel decided not to bestow the Play Award on any of the applicants.[5]

In November 2011, the NSW Government announced a review of the Premier's Literary Awards for 2012. An independent panel, chaired by journalist Gerard Henderson, reviewed both the Literary and the Premier's History Awards, focussed on the governance, selection criteria and judging processes.[6] Following the review, the Awards are managed by the State Library of NSW, in association with Create NSW.[7]

Categories

The following prizes and awards are currently given in the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards.

Christina Stead Prize for Fiction

The Christina Stead Prize is awarded for a work of fiction that may be either a novel or a collection of stories.[8] The recipient receives a A$40,000 prize as of 2021.[9] It is named in honour of Christina Stead, an Australian novelist and short-story writer.[8] The first recipient was David Malouf, who was awarded the Prize for his novella An Imaginary Life in 1979. In 2019 Michelle de Kretser won with The Life to Come and equalled Peter Carey's record of three wins.[10]

Award winners

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Author Publisher Ref
1979 An Imaginary Life David Malouf Chatto and Windus, London [11]
1980 War Crimes Peter Carey University of Queensland Press [12]
1981 The Impersonators Jessica Anderson Macmillan [13]
1982 Bliss Peter Carey University of Queensland Press [14]
1983 The Cure Peter Kocan Angus & Robertson [15]
1984 Milk Beverley Farmer McPhee Gribble [16]
1985 Milk and Honey Elizabeth Jolley Fremantle Arts Centre Press [17]
1986 Postcards from Surfers Helen Garner McPhee Gribble [18]
1987 Dancing on Coral Glenda Adams Angus & Robertson [19]
1988 Final Things John Sligo Penguin Books Australia [20]
1989 Broken Words Helen Hodgman Penguin Books Australia [21]
1990 Reaching Tin River Thea Astley William Heinemann Australia [22]
1991 JF Was Here Nigel Krauth Allen & Unwin [23]
1992 The Death of Napoleon Simon Leys Allen & Unwin [24]
1993 Remembering Babylon David Malouf Random House Australia [25]
1994 Seasonal Adjustments Adib Khan Allen & Unwin [26]
1995 Just Like That Lily Brett Pan Macmillan [27]
1996 Leaning Towards Infinity Sue Woolfe Random House Australia [28]
1997 The Drowner Robert Drewe Pan Macmillan Australia [29]
1998 No award [4]
1999 Mr Darwin's Shooter Roger McDonald Random House Australia [30]
2000 The Salt of Broken Tears Michael Meehan Vintage Books/Random House Australia [31]
2001 Conditions of Faith Alex Miller Allen & Unwin [32]
2002 Dirt Music Tim Winton Pan Macmillan Australia [33]
2003 Moral Hazard Kate Jennings Picador
2004 Shanghai Dancing Brian Castro Giramondo Publishing
2005 The Turning Tim Winton Pan Macmillan Australia
2006 The Secret River Kate Grenville Text Publishing
2007 Theft: A Love Story Peter Carey Random House Australia
2008 The Lost Dog Michelle de Kretser Allen & Unwin [34]
2009 The Good Parents Joan London Vintage Books
2010 Summertime J.M. Coetzee Harvill Secker
2011 Lovesong Alex Miller Allen & Unwin [35]
2012 That Deadman Dance Kim Scott Pan Macmillan Australia [36]
2013 Mateship with Birds Carrie Tiffany Pan Macmillan Australia [37]
2014 Questions of Travel Michelle de Kretser Allen & Unwin [38]
2015 The Snow Kimono Mark Henshaw Text Publishing [39]
2016 Locust Girl: A Lovesong Merlinda Bobis Spinifex Press [40]
2017 The Museum of Modern Love Heather Rose Allen & Unwin [41]
2018 The Book of Dirt Bram Presser Text Publishing [42]
2019 The Life to Come Michelle de Kretser Allen & Unwin [43]
2020 The Yield Tara June Winch Penguin Random House [44]
2021 A Room Made of Leaves Kate Grenville Text Publishing [45][46]
2022 Dark as Last Night Tony Birch University of Queensland Press [47][48]
2023 Women I Know Katerina Gibson Scribner [49]
2024 The Sitter Angela O'Keeffe University of Queensland Press [50]
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Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction

The Douglas Stewart Prize is awarded for a prose work that is not fiction.[51] The recipient receives a A$40,000 prize as of 2021.[9] It is named in honour of Douglas Stewart, a noted Australian literary editor.[51] The first recipient was Manning Clark, who was awarded the Prize for the fourth volume in his series A History of Australia in 1979. Drusilla Modjeska, with three wins, has won the Prize more than any other individual.[10] In 2019 Billy Griffiths and Sarah Krasnostein were joint winners.[43]

Award winners

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Author Publisher Ref
1979 A History of Australia Volume IV Manning Clark Melbourne University Press [11]
1980 Barwick David Marr Allen & Unwin [12]
1981 A Fortunate Life A.B. Facey Fremantle Arts Centre Press [13]
1982 Rebels and Precursors Richard Haese Allen Lane [14]
1983 Robert J. Hawke Blanche d'Alpuget Schwartz Books [15]
1984 The Archibald Paradox Sylvia Lawson Allen Lane [16]
1985 The Moon Man Elsie Webster Melbourne University Press [17]
1986 A Paper Prince George Munster Viking/Penguin Books Australia [18]
The Kurnai of Gippsland, Volume One Phillip Pepper with Tess De Araugo Hyland House Publishing [18]
1987 The Irish In Australia Patrick O'Farrell University of New South Wales Press [19]
1988 Louisa Brian Matthews McPhee Gribble [20]
1989 His Mother's Country Maslyn Williams Melbourne University Press [21]
1990 The Snowy Siobhan McHugh William Heinemann Australia
1991 Sitting In Barry Hill William Heinemann Australia
Poppy Drusilla Modjeska McPhee Gribble
1992 Patrick White David Marr Random Century Australia
1993 Robert Menzies Forgotten People Judith Brett Pan Macmillan Australia
Put Your Whole Self In Meme McDonald Penguin Books Australia
1994 Australia's Spies and Their Secrets David McKnight Allen & Unwin
The Scandalous Penton Patrick Buckridge University of Queensland Press
1995 The Orchard Drusilla Modjeska Pan Macmillan Australia [27]
1996 Hunters and Collectors: The Antiquarian Imagination in Australia Tom Griffiths Cambridge University Press [28]
1997 The Europeans in Australia: A History, Volume One Alan Atkinson Oxford University Press
1999 H M Bark Endeavour Ray Parkin Miegunyah Press at Melbourne University Press
2000 Stravinsky's Lunch Drusilla Modjeska Picador/Pan Macmillan Australia
2001 Craft for a Dry Lake Kim Mahood Transworld/ Random House Australia
2002 The Poison Principle Gail Bell Pan Macmillan Australia
2003 Looking for Blackfellas' Point: An Australian History of Place Mark McKenna University of New South Wales Press
2004 Dancing with Strangers Inga Clendinnen Text Publishing
2005 The Idea of Home: autobiographical essays John Hughes Giramondo Publishing
2006 East of Time Jacob G. Rosenberg Brandl & Schlesinger
2007 Things I Didn't Know: a Memoir Robert Hughes Random House Australia
2008 Slicing the Silence: Voyaging to Antarctica Tom Griffiths University of New South Wales Press
2009 The Tall Man: Death and Life on Palm Island Chloe Hooper Penguin Australia
2010 Kill Khalid: Mossad's failed hit ... and the rise of Hamas Paul McGeough Allen & Unwin
2011 Malcolm Fraser: The Political Memoirs Malcolm Fraser and Margaret Simons Melbourne University Publishing
2012 An Eye for Eternity: The Life of Manning Clark Mark McKenna Miegunyah, MUP [52]
2013 The Office: A Hard Working History Gideon Haigh Miegunyah [37]
2014 Boy, Lost: A Family Memoir Kristina Olsson University of Queensland Press [38]
Rendezvous with Destiny Michael Fullilove Penguin Group (Australia) [38]
2015 The Bush Don Watson Penguin Books Australia [39]
2016 Reckoning: A Memoir Magda Szubanski Text Publishing [53]
2017 Our Man Elsewhere: In Search of Alan Moorehead Thornton McCamish Black Inc [54]
2018 Passchendaele: Requiem for Doomed Youth Paul Ham William Heinemann Australia [42]
2019 Deep Time Dreaming: Uncovering Ancient Australia (joint winner) Billy Griffiths Black Inc. [43]
The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman's Extraordinary Life in Death, Decay and Disaster (joint winner) Sarah Krasnostein Text Publishing [43]
2020 Tiberius with a Telephone: The Life and Stories of William McMahon Patrick Mullins Scribe Publications [44]
2021 The Warrior, the Voyager, and the Artist: Three Lives in an Age of Empire Kate Fullagar Yale University Press [45][46]
2022 The Winter Road: A Story of Legacy, Land and a Killing at Croppa Creek Kate Holden Black Inc. [47][55]
2023 We Come With This Place Debra Dank Echo Publishing [49]
2024 Ghosts of the Orphanage Christine Kenneally Hachette Australia [50]
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Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry

The Kenneth Slessor Prize is awarded for a book of poetry, whether collected poems or a single poem of some length, and was first awarded in 1980. The recipient receives a A$30,000 prize as of 2021.[9] It is named in honour of Kenneth Slessor, a noted Australian poet and journalist.[56] The first recipient was David Campbell, who won the Prize posthumously. In 2011, NSW poet Jennifer Maiden became the only individual to win the award three times.[10]

Award winners

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Author Publisher Ref
1980 The Man in the Honeysuckle David Campbell Angus & Robertson [12]
1981 Astral Sea Alan Gould Angus & Robertson [13]
1982 Kaddish and Other Poems Fay Zwicky University of Queensland Press [14]
1983 Tide Country Vivian Smith Angus & Robertson [15]
1984 The People's Otherworld : Poems Les A. Murray Angus & Robertson [16]
1985 Your Shadow Kevin Hart Angus & Robertson [17]
1986 Selected Poems 1963-83 Robert Gray Angus & Robertson [18]
1987 Blood and Bone Philip Hodgins Angus & Robertson [19]
1988 The Domesticity of Giraffes Judith Beveridge Black Lightning Press [20]
1989 Under Berlin John Tranter University of Queensland Press [21]
1990 The Clean Dark Robert Adamson Paper Bark Press
1991 The Winter Baby Jennifer Maiden Collins Angus & Robertson
1992 Selected Poems Elizabeth Riddell Collins Angus & Robertson
1993 Translations from the Natural World Les A. Murray Isabella Press
1994 Ghosting William Buckley Barry Hill William Heinemann Australia
1995 Coming Home From the World Peter Boyle Five Islands Press [27]
1996 Weeping for Lost Babylon Eric Beach HarperCollins Publishers [28]
Selected Poems J. S. Harry Penguin Books Australia
1997 The Viewfinder Anthony Lawrence University of Queensland Press
1999 Race Against Time Lee Cataldi Penguin Books Australia
2000 Mines Jennifer Maiden Paper Bark Press / Australian Humanities Research Foundation
2001 Africa Ken Taylor Five Islands Press
2002 The Lovemakers Alan Wearne Penguin Books Australia
2003 Screens Jets Heaven: New and Selected Poems Jill Jones Salt Publishing
2004 Dear Deliria: New & Selected Poems Pam Brown Salt Publishing
2005 Smoke Encrypted Whispers Samuel Wagan Watson University of Queensland Press
2006 Latecomers Jaya Savige University of Queensland Press
2007 Urban Myths:210 Poems John Tranter University of Queensland Press
2008 Two Kinds of Silence Kathryn Lomer University of Queensland Press
2009 Man Wolf Man L. K. Holt John Leonard Press
2010 the sonnet according to ‘m’ Jordie Albiston John Leonard Press
2011 Pirate Rain Jennifer Maiden Giramondo Publishing
2012 New and Selected Poems Gig Ryan Giramondo Publishing
2013 Ruby Moonlight Ali Cobby Eckermann Magabala Books [37]
2014 Novelties Fiona Hile Hunter [38]
2015 Earth Hour David Malouf University of Queensland Press [57]
2016 brush Joanne Burns Giramondo Poets [58]
2017 Ghostspeaking Peter Boyle Vagabond Press [54]
2018 Argosy Bella Li Vagabond Press [42]
2019 Interval Judith Bishop University of Queensland Press [43]
2020 Enfolded in the Wings of a Great Darkness Peter Boyle Vagabond Press [44]
2021 Throat Ellen van Neerven University of Queensland Press [45][46]
2022 accelerations & inertias Dan Disney Vagabond Press [47][59]
2023 The Singer and Other Poems Kim Cheng Boey Cordite Books [49]
2024 Riverbed Sky Songs Tais Rose Wae Vagabond Press [50]
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Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature

The Ethel Turner Prize is awarded for work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry written for young people of secondary school level.[60] The recipient receives a A$30,000 prize as of 2021.[9] It is named in honour of Ethel Turner, author of the children's classic, Seven Little Australians.[60]

The Children's Literature section of the Premier's Literary Awards began as a single award in 1979, but was redefined in 1999 to create the Patricia Wrightson Prize (for writing for a primary school audience) and the Ethel Turner Prize (for a secondary school audience). The Ethel Turner Award was also given to all previous winners in the Children's Literature section.[61] The Prize was first won, jointly, by Patricia Wrightson and Jenny Wagner in 1979. Australian author Ursula Dubosarsky and writer Jaclyn Moriarty have each won the prize three times.[10]

Award winners

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Author Publisher Ref
1979 John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat Jenny Wagner Kestrel Books [11]
The Dark Bright Water Patricia Wrightson (Special Children's book) Atheneum Books, New York [11]
1980 Mr Archimedes' Bath Pamela Allen William Collins [12]
Land of the Rainbow Snake Catherine Berndt (Special Children's book) William Collins [12]
1981 When the Wind Changed Ruth Park and Deborah Niland William Collins [13]
Seventh Pebble Eleanor Spence Oxford University Press [13]
1982 Whistle Up the Chimney Nan Hunt and Craig Smith William Collins [62]
1983 Who Sank the Boat? Pamela Allen Nelson [63]
Five Times Dizzy Nadia Wheatley (Special children's book) Oxford University Press [63]
1984 Possum Magic Mem Fox and Julie Vivas Omnibus Books [16]
1985 The House That was Eureka Nadia Wheatley Viking/Kestrel [17]
1986 The True Story of Spit MacPhee James Aldridge Viking/Penguin Books Australia [18]
1987 A Rabbit Named Harris Nan Hunt and Betina Ogden William Collins [19]
1988 Answers to Brut Gillian Rubinstein Omnibus Books [20]
1989 You Take the High Road Mary Pershall Penguin Books Australia [21]
1990 The Blue Chameleon Katherine Scholes Hill of Content Publishing
1991 Strange Objects Gary Crew William Heinemann Australia
1992 All in the Blue Unclouded Weather Robin Klein Penguin Books Australia
1993 Tjarany Roughtail Gracie Greene, Lucille Gill and Joe Tramacchi Magabala Books
1994 The White Guinea Pig Ursula Dubosarsky Penguin Books Australia
1995 Mr Enigmatic Jenny Pausacker Reed for Kids [27]
1996 Johnny Hart's Heroes David Metzenthen Penguin Books Australia [28]
1997 The Two Bullies Junko Morimoto Random House Australia
1998 No award
1999 The Divine Wind Garry Disher Hodder Headline Australia
2000 The Binna-Binna Man Meme McDonald and Boori Monty Pryor Allen & Unwin
2001 Feeling Sorry for Celia Jaclyn Moriarty Pan Macmillan Australia
2002 Soldier Boy: The True Story of Jim Martin, the Youngest Anzac Anthony Hill Penguin Books Australia
2003 The Messenger Markus Zusak Pan Macmillan Australia
2004 Boys of Blood and Bone David Metzenthen Penguin Books Australia
2005 By the River Steven Herrick Allen & Unwin
2006 Theodora's Gift Ursula Dubosarsky Penguin Group Australia
2007 The Red Shoe Ursula Dubosarsky Allen & Unwin
2008 Town James Roy University of Queensland Press
2009 A Brief History of Montmaray Michelle Cooper Random House Australia
2010 When the Hipchicks Went to War Pamela Rushby Hachette Australia
2011 Graffiti Moon Cath Crowley Pan Macmillan Australia
2012 Only Ever Always Penni Russon Allen & Unwin
2013 A Corner of White Jaclyn Moriarty Pan Macmillan Australia [37]
2014 Zac and Mia AJ Betts Text Press [38]
2015 The Cracks in the Kingdom Jaclyn Moriarty Pan Macmillan Australia [39]
2016 Laurinda Alice Pung Black Inc. [64]
2017 One Thousand Hills James Roy and Noël Zihabamwe Omnibus Books, Scholastic Australia [54]
2018 The Ones That Disappeared Zana Fraillon Lothian [42]
2019 Amelia Westlake Erin Gough Hardie Grant Egmont [43]
2020 Lenny's Book of Everything Karen Foxlee Allen & Unwin [44]
2021 The End of the World Is Bigger than Love Davina Bell Text Publishing [45][46]
2022 The Gaps Leanne Hall Text Publishing [47][65]
2023 The Upwelling Lystra Rose Hachette [49]
2024 The Quiet and the Loud Helena Fox Pan Macmillan Australia [50]
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Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children's Literature

The Patricia Wrightson Prize is awarded for work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry written for children up to secondary school level.[66] The recipient receives a A$30,000 prize as of 2021.[9]

The Children's Literature section of the Premier's Literary Awards began as a single award in 1979, but was redefined in 1999 to create the Patricia Wrightson Prize (for writing for a primary school audience) and the Ethel Turner Prize (for a secondary school audience).[61] The Patricia Wrightson Prize was created in honour of children's author Patricia Wrightson, who won the first Ethel Turner Prize in 1979.[67] The first recipient was Odo Hirsch, for his debut children's book, Antonio S and the Mystery of Theodore Guzman. The most recent recipient is Leanne Hall, author of Iris and the Tiger. Kierin Meehan is the only author who has won the Prize more than once.[10]

Award winners

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Author Publisher Ref
1999 Antonio S and the Mystery of Theodore Guzman Odo Hirsch Allen & Unwin
2000 The Spangled Drongo Steven Herrick University of Queensland Press
2001 Fox Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks (illus.) Allen & Unwin
2002 The Red Tree Shaun Tan Lothian Books
2003 Where in the World Simon French Little Hare Books
2004 Night Singing Kierin Meehan Penguin Books Australia
2005 Farm Kid Sherryl Clark Penguin Books Australia
2006 In the Monkey Forest Kierin Meehan Penguin Books Australia
2007 Home Narelle Oliver Omnibus Books
2008 The Peasant Prince Li Cunxin and Anne Spudvilas (illus.) Penguin Books Australia
2009 The Word Spy Ursula Dubosarsky and Tohby Riddle Penguin Books Australia
2010 Krakatoa Lighthouse Allan Baillie Penguin Books Australia
2011 My Australian Story: The Hunt for Ned Kelly Sophie Masson Scholastic Australia
2012 Crow Country Kate Constable Allen & Unwin
2013 The Ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon Aaron Blabey Penguin Books Australia [37]
2014 The Girl Who Brought Mischief Katrina Nannestad HarperCollins Publishers [38]
2015 Crossing Catherine Norton Omnibus/Scholastic Australia [39]
Figgy in the World Tamsin Janu Omnibus/Scholastic Australia [39]
2016 Teacup Rebecca Young & Matt Ottley Scholastic Australia [68]
2017 Iris and the Tiger Leanne Hall Text Publishing [54]
2018 How to Bee Bren MacDibble Allen & Unwin [42]
2019 Leave Taking Lorraine Marwood University of Queensland Press [43]
Dingo Claire Saxby and Tannya Harricks Walker Books [43]
2020 Ella and the Ocean Lian Tanner & Jonathan Bentley Allen & Unwin [44]
2021 The Grandest Bookshop in the World Amelia Mellor Affirm Press [45][46]
2022 My Brother Ben Peter Carnavas University of Queensland Press [47][69]
2023 The First Scientists Corey Tutt and Blak Douglas Hardie Grant [49]
2024 Paradise Sands: A Story of Enchantment Levi Pinfold Walker Books [50]
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NSW Multicultural Award

This Award was first established in 1980, when it was known as the Ethnic Affairs Commission Award.[70][71] Later known as the Community Relations Commission Award, and from 2012 referred to as the Community Relations Commission for Multicultural NSW Award, or from 2014 just Multicultural NSW Award, the prize money is worth $20,000 as of 2021.[9][72][73]

It is offered for: "a book of fiction or non-fiction, memoir or history; a play, musical drama or comedy, theatrical monologue or other theatrical performance; a book of collected poems or a single poem of substantial length published in book form; the screenplay of a feature or documentary film or episode of a television program...; or the script of a radio play or documentary which is deemed by the judges to have made a significant contribution to Australian literature, poetry, theatre, film, radio or television and which also considers any aspect of the Australian migration experience; and/or aspects of cultural diversity and multiculturalism in Australian society."[74]

Award winners

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Author Publisher Ref
1980 Australia through Italian Eyes Stephanie Lindsay Thompson Oxford University Press [12]
1981 For the Patriarch Angelo Loukakis University of Queensland Press [13]
1982 The Long Farewell Don Charlwood Allen Lane
1983 Faith of Our Fathers Spiro Zavos University of Queensland Press
1984 A Universe of Clowns Serge Liberman Phoenix Publications [16]
1985 Oh Lucky Country Rosa Cappiello University of Queensland Press
1986 No Snow In December Maria Lewitt Heinemann Publishers
1987 Dreamtime Nightmares Bill Rosser Penguin Books Australia
1991 Jewels and Ashes Arnold Zable Scribe Publications
1992 Inside Outside Andrew Riemer HarperCollins Angus & Robertson
1993 The Crocodile Fury Beth Yahp HarperCollins Angus & Robertson
1994 Aphrodite and the Others Gillian Bouras McPhee Gribble
1995 The First Book of Samuel Ursula Dubosarsky Penguin Books Australia [27]
1996 Caravanserai Hanifa Deen Allen & Unwin [28]
1997 The Fiftieth Gate Mark Raphael Baker HarperCollins Australia
1999 Mortal Divide: the Autobiography of Yiorgos Alexandroglou George Alexander Brandl & Schlesinger
2000 The Binna-Binna Man Meme McDonald and Boori Monty Pryor Allen & Unwin
2001 Rabbit-Proof Fence Christine Olsen Jabal Films
2002 Visits Home: Migration Experiences between Italy and Australia Loretta Baldassar Melbourne University Press
2003 Secrets and Spies: The Harbin Files Mara Moustafine Random House Australia
2004 Against Paranoid Nationalism: Searching for Hope in a Shrinking Society Ghassan Hage Pluto Press Australia
2005 A Certain Maritime Incident: the sinking of SIEV X Tony Kevin Scribe Publications
2006 The Secret River Kate Grenville Text Publishing
2007 The Arrival Shaun Tan Hachette Australia
2008 Sunrise West Jacob G. Rosenberg Brandl & Schlesinger
2009 Destination Australia: migration to Australia since 1901 Eric Richards UNSW Press
2010 Leave to Remain: A Memoir Abbas El-Zein Penguin Books Australia
2011 The English Class Ouyang Yu Transit Lounge Publishing
2012 Good Living Street: The Fortunes of My Viennese Family Tim Bonyhady Allen & Unwin
2013 Don't Go Back to Where You Came From Tim Soutphommasane NewSouth [37]
2014 Questions of Travel Michelle de Kretser Allen & Unwin [75]
The Secret River Andrew Bovell Currency Press [75]
2015 Black and Proud: The story of an AFL photo Matthew Klugman and Gary Osmond NewSouth [76]
2016 Good Muslim Boy Osamah Sami Hardie Grant [77]
2017 The Hate Race Maxine Beneba Clarke Hachette Australia [78]
2018 The Permanent Resident Roanna Gonsalves UWA [79]
2019 The Lebs Michael Mohammed Ahmad Hachette Australia [72]
2020 The Pillars Peter Polites Hachette Australia [44]
2021 Throat Ellen van Neerven University of Queensland Press [45][46]
2022 Still Alive: Notes from Australia's Immigration Detention System Safdar Ahmed Twelve Panels Press [47][80]
2023 The Eulogy Jackie Bailey Hardie Grant [81]
2024 Stay for Dinner Sandhya Parappukkaran, illustrated by Michelle Pereira Hardie Grant [50]
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UTS Glenda Adams Award for New Writing

The UTS Glenda Adams Award for New Writing (originally the UTS Award for New Writing) is given for a published book of fiction by an author who has not previously published a work of fiction that is book-length. It was established in 2005,[82] and the winner receives a A$5,000 prize as of 2021.[9] from the University of Technology, Sydney.[82][83]

The award was renamed in 2008 to honour Glenda Adams, the Australian novelist and short story writer who died in 2007.[84]

Award winners

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Author Publisher Ref
2005 The Last Ride Denise Young HarperCollins Australia
2006 An Accidental Terrorist Steven Lang University of Queensland Press
2007 Swallow the Air Tara June Winch University of Queensland Press
2009 Feather Man Rhyll McMaster Brandl & Schlesinger
2009 The Boat Nam Le Penguin Books Australia
2010 Document Z Andrew Croome Allen & Unwin
2011 Traitor Stephen Daisley Text Publishing
2012 The Roving Party Rohan Wilson Allen & Unwin
2013 The Last Thread Michael Sala Affirm Press [37]
2014 The Night Guest Fiona McFarlane Penguin Group (Australia) [38]
2015 An Elegant Young Man Luke Carman Giramondo Publishing [39]
2016 An Astronaut’s Life Sonja Dechian Text Publishing [85]
2017 Letter to Pessoa Michelle Cahill Giramondo Publishing [41]
2018 The Book of Dirt Bram Presser Text Publishing [42]
2019 Boy Swallows Universe Trent Dalton HarperCollins [43]
2020 Real Differences S L Lim Transit Lounge [44]
2021 Cherry Beach Laura McPhee-Browne Text Publishing [45][46]
2022 Hold Your Fire Chloe WIlson Scribner[47] [86]
2023 We Come With This Place Debra Dank Echo Publishing [49]
2024 Anam André Dao Penguin Random House [50]
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Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting

The Play Award, established in 1983, is given to a play or musical which has been produced in Australia. The winner is chosen based purely on the merit of the written text,[87] and they receive a A$30,000 prize as of 2021.[9] The award was first given to playwright Nicholas Enright and composer Terence Clarke for the musical Variations. Writers Daniel Keene and Stephen Sewell have each won the Award three times.[10]

In 2010, the judges decided not to shortlist any plays for the Award, instead bestowing a $30,000 grant for new playwrights. Their decision was widely criticised by many of Australia's most experienced playwrights.[88] Gil Appleton, head of the judging panel, called for all future judges to see a performance of the play rather than judging the work on the script alone.[5]

Award winners

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Author Ref
1983 Variations Nicholas Enright and Terence Clarke [89]
1984 Down an Alley Filled with Cats Warwick Moss [16]
1985 The Blind Giant is Dancing Stephen Sewell [17]
1986 Away Michael Gow [18]
1987 Blood Relations David Malouf [19]
1988 The Rivers of China Alma De Groen [20]
1989 Hate Stephen Sewell [21]
1991 Hotel Sorrento Hannie Rayson
1992 Cosi Louis Nowra
1993 Dead Heart Nicholas Parsons
1994 Sex Diary of an Infidel Michael Gurr
1995 Sweet Phoebe Michael Gow [27]
Falling From Grace Hannie Rayson [27]
1996 The Shoe-Horn Sonata John Misto [28]
1997 Jerusalem Michael Gurr
1999 Box the Pony Scott Rankin and Leah Purcell
2000 Scissors, Paper, Rock Daniel Keene
2001 Milo's Wake Margery Forde and Michael Forde
2002 Miss Tanaka John Romeril
2003 Half & Half Daniel Keene
2004 Myth, Propaganda and Disaster in Nazi Germany and Contemporary America Stephen Sewell
2005 Harbour Katherine Thomson
2006 Strangers in Between Tommy Murphy
2007 Holding the Man Tommy Murphy, adapted from the book by Timothy Conigrave
2008 Stories in the Dark Debra Oswald
2009 The Serpent's Teeth Daniel Keene
2011 Do Not Go Gentle Patricia Cornelius
2012 Porn, Cake Vanessa Bates
2012 The Gift Joanna Murray-Smith
2013 The Damned Reg Cribb [37]
2014 Muff Van Badham [38]
2015 Black Diggers Tom Wright [90]
2016 The Bleeding Tree Angus Cerini [91]
2017 The Drover's Wife Leah Purcell [54]
2018 Black is the New White Nakkiah Lui [42]
2019 The Almighty Sometimes Kendall Feaver [43]
2020 Counting and Cracking S. Shakthidharan [44]
2021 Milk Dylan Van Den Berg [45][46]
2022 Orange Thrower Kristy Marillier [47][92]
2023 Whitefella Yella Tree Dylan Van Den Berg [49]
2024 Sex Magick Nicholas Brown [50]
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Betty Roland Prize for Script Writing

In 1984, the Film Writing Award and the Television Writing Award were established, followed by the Radio Writing Award in 1988. In 1990, these three awards were amalgamated into the Script Writing Award. It is given for the script of a film, radio program or television program, which may be fiction or a documentary. The winner is chosen based purely on the merit of the written text,[93] and they receive a A$30,000 prize as of 2021.[9] The award was first given jointly to the film scripts for Sweetie and An Angel at My Table. Directors Jane Campion and Rolf de Heer have each won the Award twice.[10]

Award winners

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Author Ref
1984 Careful, He Might Hear You (Film Writing Award) Michael Jenkins [16]
Scales of Justice (Television Writing Award) Robert Caswell [16]
1985 My First Wife (Film Writing Award) Bob Ellis and Paul Cox
The Cowra Breakout (Television Writing Award) Margaret Kelly, Chris Noonan, Phillip Noyce and Russell Braddon
1986 Bliss (Film Writing Award) Peter Carey and Ray Lawrence
1987 Malcolm (Film Writing Award) David Parker
Two Friends (Television Writing Award) Helen Garner
1988 High Tide (Film Writing Award) Laura Jones
Australia-Japan: A Love Story (Radio Writing Award) Keith Gallasch and Virginia Baxter
Olive (Television Writing Award) Anthony Wheeler
1989 The Story of Anger Lee Bredenza (Radio Writing Award) Alana Valentine [21]
The True Believers (Television Writing Award) Bob Ellis and Stephen Ramsay [21]
1990 Sweetie Jane Campion and Gerard Lee
An Angel at My Table Laura Jones
1992 Dingo Marc Rosenberg
1993 Strictly Ballroom Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce
1994 Bad Boy Bubby Rolf de Heer
1995 "Playing the Ego Card", Frontline Jane Kennedy, Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch [27]
1996 Blue Murder Ian David [28]
1997 Mabo: Life of an Island Man Trevor Graham
1999 Dance Me to My Song Heather Rose, Frederick Stahl and Rolf de Heer
2000 Looking for Alibrandi Melina Marchetta
2001 Rabbit-Proof Fence Christine Olsen
2002 My Mother India Safina Uberoi
2003 Till Human Voices Wake Us Michael Petroni
2004 Marking Time John Doyle
2005 The Art of War Betty Churcher
2006 We Can Be Heroes: Finding The Australian of the Year Chris Lilley
2007 The Home Song Stories Tony Ayres
2008 Forbidden Lie$ Anna Broinowski
2009 First Australians Louis Nowra, Rachel Perkins & Beck Cole
2010 Bright Star Jane Campion
Fairweather Man Aviva Ziegler
2011 Offspring Debra Oswald
2012 Rake (Episode 1): R v Murray Peter Duncan
2013 Dead Europe Louise Fox [37]
2014 Devil's Dust (two-part series) Kris Mrksa [38]
2015 The Babadook Jennifer Kent [94]
2016 Deadline Gallipoli, Episode 4: 'The Letter' Cate Shortland [95]
2017 The Code, Series 2 Episode 4 Shelley Birse (joint winner) [54]
Down Under Abe Forsythe (joint winner) [54]
2018 Deep Water: The Real Story Amanda Blue and Jacob Hickey (joint winners) [42]
Top of the Lake: China Girl, "Birthday" Series 2 Episode 4 Jane Campion and Gerard Lee (joint winners) [42]
2019 Jirga Benjamin Gilmour [43]
2020 Missing Kylie Boltin (joint winner) [44]
The Cry, Episode 2 Jacquelin Perske (joint winner) [44]
2021 Freeman Laurence Billiet [45][46]
2022 NITRAM Shaun Grant [47][96]
2023 Blaze Del Kathryn Barton and Huna Amweero [81]
2024 Safe Home, Episode 1 Anna Barnes [50]
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NSW Premier's Prize for Literary Scholarship

Awarded biennially, the Prize for Literary Scholarship was made to a book, CD-ROM or DVD which presents an original perspective on one or more published works. The winner received a A$30,000 prize. It was discontinued and has not been awarded since 2010.[10][97]

Award winners

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Author
2004 Broken Song: T.G.H. Strehlow and Aboriginal Possession Barry Hill
2006 Postcolonial Conrad: Paradoxes of Empire Terry Collits
2008 Samuel Taylor Coleridge: a Literary Life William Christie
2010 Networked Language: Culture and History in Australian Poetry Philip Mead
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People's Choice Award

This award was established in 2009 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the awards.[98] The Award is based on votes by New South Wales residents from the works shortlisted for the Christina Stead Prize for fiction. The award was first won by Steve Toltz for his novel, A Fraction of the Whole.[99]

Award winners

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Author Ref
2009 A Fraction of the Whole Steve Toltz
2010 The World Beneath Cate Kennedy
2011 Lovesong Alex Miller
2012 Five Bells Gail Jones
2013 Animal People Charlotte Wood [37]
2014 The Railwayman's Wife Ashley Hay [38]
2015 Only the Animals (joint winner)

The Golden Age (joint winner)

Ceridwen Dovey

Joan London

[100]
2016 The Life of Houses Lisa Gorton [101]
2017 Vancouver #3 in the series Wisdom Tree Nick Earls [41]
2018 The Book of Dirt Bram Presser [42]
2019 Boy Swallows Universe Trent Dalton [102]
2020 The Yield Tara June Winch [44]
2021 The Dictionary of Lost Words Pip Williams [45][46]
2022 The Shut Ins Katherine Brabon [47][103]
2023 Every Version of You Grace Chan [81]
2024 The God of No Good Sita Walker [50]
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Book of the Year

The winner of the New South Wales Book of the Year is chosen from among the winners of that year's awards, with the award worth an extra A$10,000 as of 2021.[9]

Award winners

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Author Other Award Ref
1992 Selected Poems Elizabeth Riddell Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry
1993 Tjarany Roughtail Gracie Green, Lucille Gill and Joe Tramacchi Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature
1994 Seasonal Adjustments Adib Khan Christina Stead Prize for Fiction
1995 The Encyclopaedia of Aboriginal Australia David Horton Special Award [27]
1996 Hunters and Collectors: The Antiquarian Imagination in Australia Tom Griffiths Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction [28]
1997 The Drowner Robert Drewe Christina Stead Prize for Fiction
1999 H M Bark Endeavour Ray Parkin Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction
2000 The Binna-Binna Man Meme McDonald and Boori Monty Pryor Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature
2001 Broken Circles: Fragmenting Indigenous Families 1800-2000 Anna Haebich Gleebooks Prize
2002 The Lovemakers Alan Wearne Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry
2003 Looking for Blackfellas' Point: An Australian History of Place Mark McKenna Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction
2004 Shanghai Dancing Brian Castro Christina Stead Prize for Fiction
2005 Smoke Encrypted Whispers Samuel Wagan Watson Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry
2006 The Weather Makers Tim Flannery Gleebooks Prize for Critical Writing
2007 The Arrival Shaun Tan Community Relations Commission Award
2008 The Lost Dog Michelle de Kretser Christina Stead Prize for Fiction
2009 The Boat Nam Le UTS Glenda Adams Award for New Writing
2010 Kill Khalid: Mossad's failed hit ... and the rise of Hamas Paul McGeough Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction
2011 Malcolm Fraser: The Political Memoirs Malcolm Fraser and Margaret Simons Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction
2012 That Deadman Dance Kim Scott Christina Stead Prize for Fiction [52]
2013 Ruby Moonlight Ali Cobby Eckermann Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry [37]
2014 Questions of Travel Michelle de Kretser Christina Stead Prize for Fiction [38]
2015 The Bush Don Watson Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction [39]
2016 Dark Emu Bruce Pascoe Indigenous Writers Prize [104]
2017 The Drover's Wife Leah Purcell Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting [41][54]
2018 Taboo Kim Scott Indigenous Writers Prize [42]
2019 Deep Time Dreaming: Uncovering Ancient Australia Billy Griffiths Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction [43]
2020 The Yield Tara June Winch Christina Stead Prize for Fiction [44]
2021 Throat Ellen van Neerven Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry [45][46]
2022 Still Alive: Notes from Australia’s Immigration Detention System Safdar Ahmed Twelve Panels Press [47][105]
2023 We Come With This Place Debra Dank Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction [49]
2024 She Is the Earth Ali Cobby Eckermann Indigenous Writers' Prize [50]
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Special Award

The Special Award can be proposed by the judges for a work that doesn't easily fit into the existing prizes, or as a general recognition of a writer's achievements.[10][106] The winner received a A$10,000 prize as of 2021.[9]

Award winners

NSW Premier's Translation Prize

Awarded biennially, the Translation Prize is offered to Australian translators who translate works into English from other languages.[108] The winner receives a A$30,000 prize as of 2021.[9] It will next be awarded in 2025.[10][108]

Award winners

More information Year, Recipient ...
Year Recipient
2001 Mabel Lee
2003 Julie Rose
2005 Chris Andrews
2007 John Nieuwenhuizen
2009 David Colmer
2011 Ian Johnston
2013 Peter Boyle[37]
2015 Brian Nelson
2017 Royall Tyler[54]
2019 Alison Entrekin[43]
2021 Alice Whitmore[45][46]
Nick Trakakis[45][46]
2023 Tiffany Tsao[81]
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Multicultural NSW Early Career Translator Prize

The Multicultural NSW Early Career Translator Prize was established in 2015. It is sponsored by Multicultural NSW and the winner currently receives a A$5,000 prize. The award acknowledges translators in the first ten years of their practice.[109]

Award winners

More information Year, Recipient ...
Year Recipient Ref
2015 Lilit Zekulin Thwaites [110]
2017 Jan Owen [111]
2022 Safdar Ahmed [112]
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Indigenous Writers' Prize

The inaugural Indigenous Writers' Prize was awarded in 2016. The prize is offered biennially and the winner receives a A$30,000 prize. The prize is intended to acknowledge the contribution made to Australian literary culture by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers.[113] The first award was shared by joint winners, Bruce Pascoe for his book Dark Emu and Ellen van Neerven for Heat and Light.[114]

Award winners

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Author Publisher Ref
2016 Dark Emu (joint winner) Bruce Pascoe Magabala Books [115]
Heat and Light (joint winner) Ellen van Neerven University of Queensland Press [116]
2018 Taboo Kim Scott Text Publishing [42]
2020 The White Girl Tony Birch University of Queensland Press [44]
2022 Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray: River of Dreams Anita Heiss Simon & Schuster [47][117]
2023 We Come With This Place Debra Dank Echo Publishing [49]
2024 She Is the Earth Ali Cobby Eckermann Magabala Books [50]
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Gleebooks Prize for Critical Writing

The Gleebooks Prize was established in 1995 and was offered for Australian critical writing. The winner received a A$10,000 prize.[118] It was last awarded in 2009 to David Love and its current status is unknown.[10]

Award winners

Year Title Author Publisher Ref
1995 Volatile Bodies, Towards a Corporeal Feminism Elizabeth Grosz
1996 Artful Histories: Modern Australian Autobiography David McCooey Cambridge University Press [28]
1997 Love and Freedom: Professional Women and the Reshaping of Personal Life Alison Mackinnon
1999 Ngarrindjeri Wurruwarrin: A World that Is, Was and Will Be Diane Bell
2000 Reading the Holocaust Inga Clendinnen
2001 Broken Circles: Fragmenting Indigenous Families 1800-2000 Anna Haebich
2002 Borderline: Australia's treatment of refugees and asylum seekers Peter Mares
2003 How Simone de Beauvoir Died in Australia Sylvia Lawson
2004 The Artificial Horizon: Imagining the Blue Mountains Martin Thomas
2005 Blackfellas Whitefellas and the Hidden Injuries of Race Gillian Cowlishaw
2006 The Weather Makers: the History and Future Impact of Climate Change Tim Flannery Text Publishing
2007 Asbestos House: the Secret History of James Hardie Industries Gideon Haigh
2008 Race and the Crisis of Humanism Kay Anderson
2009 Unfinished Business: Paul Keating's interrupted revolution David Love Scribe Publications

See also

References

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