Tasmanian Literary Awards Explained

The Tasmanian Premier's Literary Prizes are literary prizes that are awarded biennially in four categories by the Tasmanian Government. There are two panels of three judges: one for the book prizes, the other for the emerging writers and young writer's fellowship. In September 2021 the Tasmanian Government announced that the awards had been renamed the Tasmanian Literary Awards, would only be open to writers living in Tasmania. The six new categories are:[1]

Tasmania Book Prize winners

Awarded for the best book with Tasmanian content.

YearTitleAuthorPublisher
2007In Tasmania: Adventures at the End of the World Nicholas ShakespeareKnopf[2]
2009Van Diemen's LandJames BoyceBlack Inc.
2011Wanting Richard FlanaganRandom House[3]
20131835: The Founding of Melbourne and the Conquest of AustraliaJames BoyceBlack Inc.[4]
2015The Rise and Fall of Gunns Ltd Quentin BeresfordNew South Publishing[5]
2017Into the Heart of Tasmania: A Search for Human AntiquityRebe TaylorMelbourne University Press[6]
2019Bridget CrackRachel LearyAllen & Unwin[7]

Margaret Scott Prize winners

This prize, named in honour of well-known Tasmanian writer, Margaret Scott (1934–2005) is awarded for the best book by a Tasmanian author.

YearTitleAuthorPublisher
2007Twilight of Love: Travels with TurgenevRobert DessaixPicador
2009Closing Hell's Gates: the Death of a Convict Station Hamish Maxwell-StewartAllen & Unwin
2011What Now, Tilda B? Kathryn LomerUniversity of Queensland Press
2013The Roving PartyRohan WilsonAllen & Unwin
2015The Narrow Road to the Deep North Richard FlanaganRandom House Australia
2017The Museum of Modern LoveHeather RoseAllen & Unwin
2019FlamesRobbie ArnottText

University of Tasmania Prize winners

The first three awards were for best book by a Tasmanian publisher. Since 2013 the University of Tasmania Prize has been awarded for the best new unpublished literary work by an emerging Tasmanian writer.

YearTitleAuthorDetails
2007The Art of Apple Branding: Australian Apple Case Labels and the Industry Since 1788Christopher Cowles and David WalkerApples from Oz (Tasmanian publisher)
2009Antarctic Eye: the Visual Journey Lynne AndrewsStudio One (Tasmanian publisher)
2011Postcards from the Asylum Karen KnightPardalote Press (Tasmanian publisher)
2013KublaKatherine JohnsonUnpublished emerging writer
2015Soon Lois MurphyUnpublished emerging writer
2017Brodsky DiesAdam OustonUnpublished emerging writer
2019The Signal LineBrendan ColleyUnpublished emerging writer
2022The SandCameron HindrumUnpublished emerging writer[8]

Tasmanian Young Writer's Fellowship winners

Awarded to a young writer and sponsored by philanthropists. In its first year it was open to writers under 35, but for 2017 the age was lowered to under 30.

YearWriter
2015Robbie Arnott
2017Erin Hortle
2019Sam George-Allen
2022Stephanie Jack

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2021-09-15. New and improved Tasmanian Literary Awards announced. 2021-12-01. Tamar Valley Writers Festival. en-AU.
  2. Web site: Book awards: Tasmanian Book Award. Library Thing. 1 January 2018.
  3. News: Giddings. Lara. Flanagan wins 2011 Tasmania Book Prize. 1 January 2018. Tasmanian Times!com. 3 April 2011.
  4. News: 2013 Tasmanian Literary Prizes winners announced. 1 January 2018. Books + Publishing. 23 March 2013.
  5. News: Hodgman. Will. Winners of the Premier's Literary Prizes. 1 January 2018. Department of Premier and Cabinet. 2 December 2015.
  6. News: Hodgman. Will. Winners of the 2017 Premier's Literary Prizes. 1 January 2018. Department of Premier and Cabinet. 27 November 2017.
  7. Web site: 'Bridget Crack' wins 2019 Tasmania Book Prize. 6 December 2019. Books+Publishing. en-AU. 2019-12-06.
  8. Web site: Home Tasmanian Literary Awards . 2023-01-10 . www.arts.tas.gov.au.