Western Australian Premier's Book Awards

The Western Australian Premier's Book Awards is an annual book award provided by the Government of Western Australia, and managed by the State Library of Western Australia.

Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards
LocationPerth, Western Australia
CountryAustralia
First awarded1982 (1982)
WebsiteWA Premier's Book Award

History and format

Annual literary awards were inaugurated by the Western Australian Government in 1982 to honour and celebrate the literary achievements of Western Australian writers. Until 1990 the Western Australian Premier's Book Awards were called the WA Week Literary Awards.[1] The title of the award refers to the year of publication, rather than the year in which the awards were announced e.g.the 2011 awards for works published that year were announced in 2012. This changed to the award year in 2023.

The categories included poetry, non-fiction, fiction, Western Australian history, children's book, YA fiction, scripts and digital narrative. There was also a Premier's Prize, which was awarded to an overall winner.

The Barnett government downgraded the awards from an annual event to a biennial one much to the disappointment of the WA arts sector.[2][3]

The McGowan government reinstated the annual award format in 2018. There were four categories – the Western Australian Writer's Fellowship (valued at $60,000), the Premier's Prize for Writing for Children ($15,000), the Premier's Prize for an Emerging Writer ($15,000) and the Daisy Utemorrah Award for Indigenous Authors ($15,000 and publishing contract with Magabala Books).[4][5] A fifth award was added in 2023, the Premier's Prize for Book of the Year ($15,000).[6]

There have been calls for the awards to be restored to their previous levels as there are currently no categories for established poets and non-fiction writers.[7]

Honorees

1990s
Year Category Author Title Publisher
1994 Children's Books Mike Lefroy and Peter Kendall Rosa's Famous Elbow Fremantle Arts Centre Press
Fiction Joan London Letter to Constantine Fremantle Arts Centre Press
Historical & Critical Studies David Horton Encyclopaedia of Aboriginal Australia Aboriginal Studies Press
Poetry Dorothy Hewett Peninsula Fremantle Arts Centre Press
Premier's Prize Dorothy Hewett Peninsula Fremantle Arts Centre Press
Script Lois Achimovich Meekatharra Black Swan Theatre Company
Special Award Peter Holland Summer Shorts Fremantle Arts Centre Press
1995 Children's & Young Adult's Books Glyn Parry Radical Take-offs Allen & Unwin
Fiction Simone Lazaroo The World Waiting to be Made Fremantle Arts Centre Press
Historical & Critical Studies George Seddon Searching for the Snowy Allen & Unwin
Poetry Andrew Taylor Sandstone University of Queensland Press
Premier's Prize Glyn Parry Radical Take-offs Allen & Unwin
Script Heather Nimmo Whispering Demons Perth Theatre Company
Special Award Elizabeth Rippey and Barbara Rowland Plants of the Perth Coast and Islands University of Western Australia Press
1996 Overall Banjo Woorunmurra and Howard Pedersen Resistance: Jandamarra and the Bunuba Magabala Books
Children & Young Adult's Books Helen Bell Idjhil University of Western Australia Press
Fiction Heather Grace The Lighthouse Spark Fremantle Arts Centre Press
Dave Warner City of Light Fremantle Arts Centre Press
Historical & Critical Studies Banjo Woorunmurra and Howard Pedersen Resistance: Jandamarra and the Bunuba Magabala Books
Poetry Dorothy Hewett Collected Poems Fremantle Arts Centre Press
Script Award Sarah Rossetti Culture Clash Rosenbaum Whitbread
Special Award Mike Leonard The Kimberley: A journey through Northwest Australia CIS Cardigan Street Publishers
1997 Overall Gail Jones Fetish Lives Fremantle Arts Centre Press
Robert Drewe The Drowner Pan Macmillan Australia
Children & Young Adult's Books Deborah Lisson A Place of Safety Mammoth (Reed Books)
Fiction Gail Jones Fetish Lives Fremantle Arts Centre Press
Robert Drewe The Drowner Pan Macmillan Australia
Historical & Critical Studies Phillip Playford Carpet of Silver: The Wreck of the Zuytdorp University of Western Australia Press
Poetry Alec Choate The Wheels of Hama: Collected War Poems Victor Publishing
Script Award Dickon Oxenburgh and Andrew Ross Merry-Go-Round-In -the Sea Black Swan Theatre
Special Award Songs of Strength: Sixteen Women Talk About Cancer Women's Cancer Group (Macmillan)
1998 Overall Carolyn Polizzotto Pomegranate Season Fremantle Arts Centre Press
Children's book Pat Lowe and Jimmy Pike Desert Dog Magabala Books
Fiction Pat Jacobs Going Inland Fremantle Arts Centre
Historical & Critical Studies Quentin Beresford and Paul Omaji Our State of Mind: Racial Planning and the Stolen Generations Fremantle Arts Centre Press
Poetry Fay Zwicky The Gatekeeper's Wife Brandl & Schlesinger
John Kinsella The Hunt Fremantle Arts Centre Press
Script Award Ingle Knight Milk and Honey Perth Theatre Company
Writing for Young Adults Deborah Lisson Red Hugh Lothian
1999 Children's book Reg Bolton Showtime: Over 75 Ways to Put on a Show Dorling Kindersley
Fiction Kim Scott Benang: From the Heart Fremantle Arts Centre Press
Kim Scott Benang: From the Heart Fremantle Arts Centre Press
Historical & Critical Studies Estelle Blackburn Broken Lives Stellar Publishing
Poetry Tracy Ryan The Willing Eye Fremantle Arts Centre Press
Special Award Victor France, Larry Mitchell, and Alison Wright Abrolhos Islands Conversations Fremantle Arts Centre Press
Writing for Young Adults Glyn Parry Scooterboy Hodder Headline

2000s
Year Category Author Title Publisher
2000 Overall Michèle Drouart Into the Wadi Fremantle Arts Centre
Children's book Kirsty Murray Zarconi's Magic Flying Fish Allen & Unwin
Fiction Simone Lazaroo The Australian Fiancé Pan Macmillan
Non-fiction Robert Drewe The Shark Net: Memories and Murder Viking
Non-fiction Michèle Drouart Into the Wadi Fremantle Arts Centre
Poetry Mark Reid Parochial Fremantle Arts Centre
Writing for Young Adults Anthony Eaton The Darkness University of Queensland Press
2001 Overall Tim Winton Dirt Music Picador
Children's book Deborah Lisson The Yankee Whaler Scholastic
Fiction Tim Winton Dirt Music Picador
Non-fiction Jan Gothard Blue China: Single Female Migration to Colonial Australia Melbourne University Publishing
Non-fiction John Bailey The White Divers of Broome Macmillan
Poetry Dorothy Hewett Halfway up the Mountain Fremantle Arts Centre
Script Sally Riley and Archie Weller Confessions of a Headhunter
Writing for Young Adults Julia Lawrinson Obsession Fremantle Arts Centre
2002 Overall Richard Bosworth Mussolini Edward Arnold
Children's book Mark Greenwood and Frané Lessac The Legend of Moondyne Joe Cygnet/University of Western Australia
Fiction Gail Jones Black Mirror Picador
Non-fiction Richard Bosworth Mussolini Edward Arnold
Non-fiction Walmajarri storytellers, ed. Joyce Hudson, Pat Lowe, and Eirlys Richards Out of the Desert: Stories from the Walmajarri Exodus Magabala Books
Poetry Barbara Temperton Going Feral Fremantle Arts Centre
Script Hellie Turner Bench
Writing for Young Adults Pat Lowe Feeling the Heat Penguin
2003 Overall Reg Cribb Last Cab to Darwin Pork Chop Productions/Black Swan Theatre Company
Children's book Mark Greenwood The Legend of Lasseter's Reef Cygnet/University of Western Australia
Fiction Brett D'Arcy The Mindless Ferocity of Sharks Vintage
Non-fiction John Dowson Old Fremantle University of Western Australia Press
Non-fiction Stephen Kinnane Shadow Lines Fremantle Arts Centre
Poetry John Kinsella Peripheral Light Fremantle Arts Centre
Script Reg Cribb Last Cab to Darwin Pork Chop Productions/Black Swan Theatre Company
Writing for Young Adults Colin Bowles Nights in the Sun Penguin
2004 Overall Gail Jones Sixty Lights
Children's book Joanne Crawford and Grace Fielding A Home for Bilby Magabala Books
Fiction Gail Jones Sixty Lights Random House Australia
Non-fiction Greg Craven Conversations with the Constitution University of New South Wales
Non-fiction Kate Lance Redbill: From Pearls to Peace: The Life and Times of a Remarkable Lugger Fremantle Arts Centre
Poetry Miriam Wei Wei Lo Against Certain Capture Five Islands Press
Script Jolly Read Yandy Black Swan Theatre Company
Western Australian History Anthony Barker Behind the Play West Australian Football Commission
Writing for Young Adults Anthony Eaton Fireshadow University of Queensland
2005 Overall Sue Davenport, Peter Johnson, and Yuwali Cleared Out: First Contact in the Western Desert
Children's book Wendy Binks Where's Stripey? Stunned Emu Press
Fiction Carrie Tiffany Everyman's Rules for Scientific Living Picador
Non-fiction Philippa Nikulinsky and Stephen D Hopper Soul of the Desert Fremantle Arts Centre
Non-fiction Richard Bosworth Mussolini's Italy: Life Under the Dictatorship 1915-1945 Allen Lane/Penguin
Poetry Rod Moran The Paradoxes of Water: Selected and New Poems, 1970-2005 Salt Publishing
Script Reg Cribb Last Train to Freo Sue Taylor Media
Western Australian History Sue Davenport, Peter Johnson, and Yuwali Cleared Out: First Contact in the Western Desert Aboriginal Studies Press
Writing for Young Adults Kirsty Murray A Prayer for Blue Delaney Allen & Unwin
2006 Overall Shaun Tan The Arrival
Children's book Shaun Tan The Arrival Hachette Livre Australia
Fiction Simone Lazaroo The Travel Writer Pan Macmillan Australia
Non-fiction Quentin Beresford Rob Riley: An Aboriginal Leader's Quest for Justice Aboriginal Studies Press
Nonfiction Peter Edwards Arthur Tange: Last of the Mandarins Allen & Unwin
Poetry Dennis Haskell All the Time in the World Salt Publishing
Script Hellie Turner Sardines Tropic Sun Theatre Queensland
Western Australian History Bobbie Oliver The Workshops: A History of the Midland Government Railway Workshops University of Western Australia Press
Writing for Young Adults Kate McCaffrey Destroying Avalon Fremantle Arts Centre Press
2007[8] Overall Liz Lofthouse and Robert Ingpen Ziba Came on a Boat
Children's book Liz Lofthouse and Robert Ingpen Ziba Came on a Boat Viking Press
Fiction Stephen Scourfield Other Country Allen & Unwin
History Section Lucy Taksa Bobbie Oliver and Patrick Bertola: The History of the Westrail Midland Railway Workshops University of Western Australia Press
Non-fiction Antonio Buti Sir Ronald Wilson: A Matter of Conscience University of Western Australia Press
Poetry Hal Colebatch The Light River Connor Court Publishing
Script Elissa Down and Jimmy the Exploder The Black Balloon Black Balloon Film Productions
Western Australian History Ruth Marchant James Cottesloe: A Town of Distinction Town of Cottesloe
Writing for Young Adults Ken Spillman Love is a UFO Pan Macmillan Australia
2008[9] Overall Chloe Hooper The Tall Man
Children's book Bob Graham How to Heal a Broken Wing
Fiction Richard Flanagan Wanting
Non-fiction Chloe Hooper The Tall Man
Poetry Bronwyn Lea The Other Way Out
Script Damien Millar The Modern International Dead
Western Australian History Brian Dibble Doing Life: A biography of Elizabeth Jolley
Writing for Young Adults Shaun Tan Tales from Outer Suburbia
2009[9] Overall Shirley Barrett South Solitary
Children's book Margaret Wild and Freya Blackwood Harry & Hopper
Fiction Craig Silvey Jasper Jones
Fiction J. M. Coetzee Summertime
Non-fiction Iain McCalman Darwin's Armada
Poetry Kate Middleton Fire Season
Script Shirley Barrett South Solitary
Western Australian History Penelope Hetherington Paupers: Poor Relief & Poor Houses
Writing for Young Adults Justine Larbalestier Liar

2010s
Year Category Author Title Result
2010[10] Overall Kim Scott That Deadman Dance Winner
Children's book Sally Murphy and Rhian Nest James Toppling Winner
Digital Narrative Robin Craig Clark The Garden Winner
Fiction Kim Scott That Deadman Dance Winner
Non-fiction Jim Davidson The Historian: W K Hancock Winner
People's Choice Lisa Lang Utopian Man Winner
Poetry Mark Tredinnick Fire Diary Winner
Script Tommy Murphy Gwen in Purgatory Winner
Western Australian History Susanna Iuliano Vite Italiane, Italian Lives in Western Australia Winner
Writing for Young Adults Scot Gardner Happy as Larry Winner
James Roy Anonymity Jones Winner
2011[11] Overall Fiona Skyring Justice: A History of the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia Winner
Children's book Michele Gillespie and Sonia Martinez Sam, Grace and the Shipwreck Winner
Digital Narrative Max Barry Machine Man Winner
Fiction Anna Funder All That I Am Winner
Non-fiction Alice Pung Her Father's Daughter Winner
People's Choice Anna Funder All That I Am Winner
Poetry Tracy Ryan The Argument Winner
Script Tim Winton and Ellen Fontana Cloudstreet: The Screenplay Winner
Western Australian History Fiona Skyring Justice: A History of the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia Winner
Writing for Young Adults Penni Russon Only Ever Always Winner
2012 Overall Michelle de Kretser Questions of Travel Winner
Children's book Peter Macinnis Australian Backyard Naturalist Winner
Stephen Herrick Pookie Aleera Is Not My Boyfriend Winner
Digital Narrative David Reiter My Planets Reunion Memoir Winner
Fiction Michelle de Kretser Questions of Travel Winner
Non-fiction Roger Averill Exile: The Lives and Hopes of Werner Pelz Winner
People's Choice Deborah Forster The Meaning of Grace Winner
Poetry Robert Gray Cumulus Winner
Script Ingle Knight The Fremantle Candidate Winner
Western Australian History Aboriginal Studies Press Kurlumarniny: We come from the Desert Winner
Writing for Young Adults Margo Lanagan Sea Hearts Winner
2014[12] Overall Richard Flanagan The Narrow Road to the Deep North Winner
Children's book Jan Ormerod and Andrew Joyner The Swap Winner
Dianne Wolfer and Brian Simmonds Light Horse Boy Winner
Digital Narrative Christy Dena AUTHENTIC IN ALL CAPS Winner
Emerging Writer's Award Yvette Walker Letters to the End of Love Winner
Fiction Richard Flanagan The Narrow Road to the Deep North Winner
Non-fiction Kristina Olsson Boy, Lost: A Family Memoir Winner
People's Choice Tim Winton Eyrie Winner
Poetry Paul Hetherington Six Different Windows Winner
Script Van Badham The Bull, the Moon and the Coronet of Stars Winner
Western Australian History Margaret Simons Kerry Stokes: Self-Made Man Winner
Writing for Young Adults Alyssa Brugman Alex as Well Winner
2016[13] Overall Helen Garner This House of Grief Winner
Children's Books Glenda Millard, illustrated by Stephen Michael King The Duck and the Darklings Winner
Digital Narrative David P. Reiter Timelord Dreaming Winner
Fiction Joan London The Golden Age Winner
Non-fiction Helen Garner This House of Grief Winner
People's Choice Award Miles Allinson Fever of Animals Winner
Poetry Lucy Dougan The Guardians Winner
Scripts Suzie Miller Dust Winner
Western Australian Emerging Writers Award Brooke Davis Lost and Found Winner
Western Australian History Ruth A. Morgan Running Out? Water in WA Winner
Young Adult Claire Zorn The Protected Winner
2018[14] Daisy Utemorrah Award for Indigenous Authors Kirli Saunders Mother Speaks Winner
Premier's Prize for an Emerging Writer Reneé Pettitt-Schipp The Sky Runs Right Through Us Winner
Premier's Prize for Writing for Children Kelly Canby The Hole Story Winner
Western Australian Writer's Fellowship A. J. Betts Winner
2019[15][5] Western Australian Writers Hall of Fame Kim Scott Winner
Western Australian Writer's Fellowship Amanda Curtin Winner
Lucy Dougan Shortlist
Rafeif Ismail
Caitlin Maling
Carl Merrison
Premier's Prize for an Emerging Writer Holden Sheppard Invisible Boys Winner
Bindy Pritchard Fabulous Lives Shortlist
Virginia Jealous Rapture's Roadway
David Pollock The Wooleen Way
Helen Milroy Wombat, Mudlark and Other Stories
Daisy Utemorrah Award for Indigenous Authors Teela May Reid Our Matriarchs Matter Winner
Ellen van Neerven 18 Comments Shortlist
Elizabeth Stuart Swell
Jannali Jones Yenda
Krista Dunstan Noble Intentions
Premier's Prize for Writing for Children Meg McKinlay Catch a Falling Star Winner
Kathryn Lefroy Alex and the Alpacas Save the World Shortlist
Meg McKinlay, illustrated by Leila Rudge Let me Sleep, Sheep!
Michael Speechley The Gift
Fiona Burrows Violet and Nothing

2020s
Year Category Writer Title Publisher Result
2020[16][17] Western Australian Writer's Fellowship Sisonke Msimang Winner
Amanda Bridgeman Shortlist
Donna Mazza
Jon Doust
Madelaine Dickie
Premier's Prize for an Emerging Writer Rebecca Giggs Fathoms: The World in the Whale Scribe Winner
Yuot A. Alaak Father of the Lost Boys Fremantle Press Shortlist
Pattie Lees and Adam C. Lees A Question of Colour Magabala Books
Sophie McNeill We Can't Say We Didn't Know ABC Books
Catherine Noske The Salt Madonna Pan Macmillan Australia
Daisy Utemorrah Award for Indigenous Authors Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler Dirran Winner
Natasha Leslie Home is Calling Shortlist
Premier's Prize for Writing for Children Meg McKinlay, illustrated by Matt Ottley How to Make a Bird Winner
Kelly Canby Littlelight Fremantle Press Shortlist
Shirley Purdie Shirley Purdie: My Story, Ngaginybe Jarragbe Magabala Books
Bren MacDibble Across The Risen Sea Allen & Unwin
Helen Milroy Willy-willy Wagtail: Tales from the Bush Mob Magabala Books
2021[18][19] Western Australian Writers Hall of Fame Doris Pilkington Garimara Winner
Western Australian Writer's Fellowship Nandi Chinna Winner
Caitlin Maling Shortlist
David Whish-Wilson
John Mateer
Julia Lawrinson
Premier's Prize for an Emerging Writer Elfie Shiosaki Homecoming Magabala Books Winner
Cindy Solonec Debesa Magabala Books Shortlist
Josephine Taylor Eye of a Rook Fremantle Press
David Allan-Petale Locust Summer Fremantle Press
Emily Sun Vociferate Fremantle Press
Daisy Utemorrah Award for Unpublished Indigenous Junior and YA Writing Mariah Sweetman Robert Runs Winner
Sean Owen Jack Trials: Whistling Spider Shortlist
Shirleyann Wilson That one summer
Premier's Prize for Writing for Children Shirley Marr A Glasshouse of Stars Puffin Winner
Steve Heron One Thousand Snapshots Shawline Shortlist
James Foley Stellarphant Fremantle Press
Cristy Burne and Denis Knight Wednesday Weeks and the Tower of Shadows Lothian
Katie Stewart Where Do the Stars Go? Fremantle Press
2023[20][21] Western Australian Writer's Fellowship Tracy Ryan Winner
Carolyn Wadley Dowley Shortlist
Madison Godfrey
Michael Trant
Norman Jorgensen
Premier's Prize for Book of the Year Nathan Hobby The Red Witch: A Biography of Katharine Susannah Prichard Melbourne University Publishing Winner
Robert Drewe Nimblefoot Penguin Random House
Joe Fox The Shield and the Spear: the Kimberley Land Council Magabala Books
Louise Helfgott Thistledown Seed: A Memoir Brandl & Schlesinger
Scott-Patrick Mitchell Clean Upswell Publishing
Premier's Prize for an Emerging Writer Josh Kemp Banjawarn UWA Publishing Winner
Alan Fyfe T Transit Lounge Shortlist
Thomas Simpson Bone Picker Ginninderra Press
Vivien Stuart Acacia House self-published
Madeline Te Whiu The Assassin Thief New Dawn Publishing
Daisy Utemorrah Award for Unpublished Indigenous Junior and YA Fiction Jared Thomas Uncle Xbox (Book 2) - Getting Dusty Winner
Kristie Harris A Queen's Glory Shortlist
Kim Morrison The Ultimate AGD
Premier's Prize for Children's Book of the Year Leonard Cronin (Chris Nixon, illustrator) Wild Australian Life Allen & Unwin Winner
Moira Court Lion is that You Fremantle Press Shortlist
Zana Fraillon and Bren MacDibble The Raven's Song Allen & Unwin
Helen Milroy Owl and Star Fremantle Press
Judith Vun Price and Jacqui Vun Nenek Tata and the Mangrove Menace Crotchet Quaver noteworthy publications

References
  1. "Western Australian Premier's Book Award Winners". goodreads.com. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  2. Writers anxious as a Book Award is edited, Artshub, 15 February 2015
  3. "WA literary awards cut to biennial". The West Australian. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  4. "Premier's Book Awards: Categories and Prizes". State Library of Western Australia. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  5. "Scott joins WA Writers Hall of Fame, WA Prem's Book Award winners announced". Books+Publishing. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  6. "WA Premier's Book Awards unveils new category: Book of the Year". Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  7. "Western Australian Premier's Literary Awards". History Countil of Western Australia.
  8. "Media Statement 2007" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
  9. Past winners: 2008–2009
  10. "WA Premier's Book Awards". State Library of Western Australia. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  11. "WA Premier's Book Awards". State Library of Western Australia. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  12. "WA Premier's Book Awards". State Library of Western Australia. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  13. "Helen Garner wins WA Premier's Book Award for This House of Grief". The West Australian. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  14. "Western Australian Premier's Book Awards". State Library of Western Australia. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  15. "2019 Winners". State Library of Western Australia. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  16. "WA Premier's Book Awards announced". Books+Publishing. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  17. "2020 Winners".
  18. "WA Premier's Book Awards announced". Books+Publishing. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  19. "WA Premier's Book Awards shortlists announced". Books+Publishing. 9 May 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  20. "2023 WA Premier's Book Awards shortlists announced". Western Australian Government. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  21. "Winners of the 2023 WA Premier's Book Awards announced". Western Australian Government. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
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