The National Biography Award, established in Australia in 1996, is awarded for the best published work of biographical or autobiographical writing by an Australian. It aims "to encourage the highest standards of writing biography and autobiography and to promote public interest in those genres".State Library of New South Wales It was initially awarded every two years, but from 2002 it has been awarded annually. Its administration was taken over by the State Library of New South Wales in 1998.
History of the Award It was originally endowed by private benefactor, Dr. Geoffrey Cains, and the original prize money was $12,500. In 2002, Cains said of endowing the award that "I wanted to give back to literature something, it had given me so much; besides, philanthropy in this country is so overlooked and diminished".Angela Bennie. They're six of the best. Sydney Morning Herald, 1 March 2002 In 2005, the prize money was increased to $20,000 with the support of Michael Crouch.State Library of New South Wales (2005) Belinda Hutchinson, former President of the Library Council of NSW, expressed gratitude for this increase to "an award that celebrates the Australian psyche through distinguished biography writing."
In 2012 the prize money for the Award has been increased to $25,000. Since 2013, each shortlisted author receives $1,000. The judging panel varies from year to year. In 2018 the Michael Crouch Award was introduced for an Australian writer's first published biography.
The shortlist is announced in early July each year, followed by the winner announcement in early August.
Winners Year Author Title Ref.2026Helen EnnisMax Dupain: A Portrait2025Abbas El-ZeinBullet, Paper, Rock: A Memoir of Words and Wars2024Lamisse HamoudaThe Shape of Dust: a father wrongly imprisoned. A daughter's quest to free him2023Ann-Marie PriestMy Tongue Is My Own: A Life of Gwen Harwood2022Bernadette BrennanLeaping into Waterfalls: The Enigmatic Gillian Mears2021Cassandra PybusTruganini: Journey Through the Apocalypse2020Patrick MullinsTiberius with a Telephone: The Life and Stories of William McMahon2019Behrouz BoochaniNo Friend But the Mountains: Writing from Manus Prison2018Judith BrettThe Enigmatic Mr Deakin2017Tom D C RobertsBefore Rupert: Keith Murdoch and the Birth of a Dynasty2016Brenda NiallMannix2015Philip ButterssAn Unsentimental Bloke: The Life and Work of C J Dennis2014Alison AlexanderThe Ambitions of Jane Franklin: Victorian Lady Adventurer2013Peter FitzpatrickThe Two Frank Thrings2012Martin ThomasThe Many Worlds of R. H. Mathews: In Search of an Australian Anthropologist2011Alasdair McGregorGrand Obsessions: The Life and Work of Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin2010Brian MatthewsManning Clark: A Life2009Ann BlaineyI am Melba 2008Philip DwyerNapoleon, 1769-1799: The Path to Power Graham SealThese Few Lines: A Convict Story – The Lost Lives of Myra and William Sykes2007Jacob RosenbergEast of Time2006John HughesThe Idea of Home2005Robert HillmanThe Boy in the Green Suit2004Barry HillBroken Song: T.G.H. Strehlow and Aboriginal Possession2003Peter RoseRose BoysDon WatsonRecollections of a Bleeding Heart : a Portrait of Paul Keating PM2002Jacqueline KentA Certain Style: Beatrice Davis, a Literary Life 2000Peter RobbM, a biography of European painter CaravaggioMandy SayerDreamtime Alice: a Memoir1998Roberta SykesSnake Cradle1996Abraham BidermanThe World of My Past
National Biography Award Lecture
In 2003, the National Biography Award lecture was instituted. It is associated with the award, and was also sponsored by Cains and Crouch. It is given annually, but takes place during the same week as the announcement of the winner.
Lectures included: 2018: Unauthorised, by Tom D C Roberts 2017: A tale finds its teller: writing the biography of Thea Astley, by Karen Lamb 2016: For better or worse: The relationship between biographer and subject, by Philip Butterss 2015: Biography and me: notes on the wonders of others (and some on self), by Kim Williams AM 2014: Based on a true story, by Linda Jaivin 2013: A different perspective, a shared story, by John Elder Robison 2012: Looking for Eliza by Evelyn Juers 2011: Recollections of a Bleeding Heart: A Portrait of Paul Keating PM, by Don Watson 2010: Biography: The Art of the Impossible, by Hilary McPhee AO 2009: ‘Truth’ as applied to biography and autobiography, by Raimond Gaita 2008: Biography, Autobiography and Memoir: Presidential Bests and Worsts, by Bob Carr 2007: Biography: The Impossible Art, by Inga ClendinnenInga Clendinnen on the impossibility of biography 2006: Materials for Life: The Enduring Value of Biography, by Robyn Archer 2005: Personal Drama: David Williamson on Self-depiction, by David Williamson 2004: The Observed of all Observers: Biography in Poetry, by Peter Porter (poet) 2003: Goethe's Two Left Feet: Reflections on the Hazards and Liberties of Biography, by Peter Rose (writer)
References
External links Bennie, Angela (2005) "Award draws people with a tale to tell" in The Sydney Morning Herald, 23 February 2005 Bennie, Angela (2002) "They're six of the best" in The Sydney Morning Herald, 1 March 2002 "Inga Clendinnen on the impossibility of biography" (lecture), on ABC Radio National The Book Show, 2007-11-09 Accessed: 2007-11-09 Knox, Malcolm (2003) 'Dual winners in Biography Prize's latest chapter' in The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 March 2003 State Library of New South Wales, National Biography Award Home Page