''The Age'' Book of the Year Awards were annual literary awards presented by

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

's ''

The Age ''The Age'' is a daily newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, that has been published since 1854. Owned and published by Nine Entertainment, ''The Age'' primarily serves Victoria (Australia), Victoria, but copies also sell in Tasmania, the Austral ...

'' newspaper. The awards were first presented in 1974. After 1998, they were presented as part of the

Melbourne Writers Festival Melbourne Writers Festival (MWF) is an annual literary festival held in the Australian city of Melbourne, a UNESCO City of Literature. The Festival runs during early September each year. Melbourne Writers Festival is part of the Word Alliance, ...

. Initially, two awards were given, one for fiction (or imaginative writing), the other for non-fiction work, but in 1993, a poetry award in honour of

Dinny O'Hearn Dinny may refer to: *Dinny Allen (born 1952), retired Gaelic football manager and former dual player *Dinny Barry-Murphy (1904–1973), famous Irish sportsperson *Dinny Cahill (born 1952), Irish hurling manager and former player *Dinny Campbell or ...

was added.Wilde et al. (1994) p. 23 The criteria were that the works be "of outstanding literary merit and express Australian identity or character", and be published in the year before the award was made. One of the award-winners was chosen as The Age Book of the Year. The awards were discontinued in 2013. In 2021 The Age Book of the Year was revived as a fiction prize, with the winner announced at the Melbourne Writers Festival.

''The Age'' Book of the Year

(Years link to corresponding "

ear An ear is the organ that enables hearing and, in mammals, body balance using the vestibular system. In mammals, the ear is usually described as having three parts—the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. The outer ear consists of ...

in literature" or "

in Australian literature" articles.) *2021: ''The Rain Heron'' by Robbie Arnott *2012: ''1835: The Founding of Melbourne & The Conquest of Australia'' by James BoyceThe Words That Count
/ref> *2011: '' Indelible Ink'' by

Fiona McGregor Fiona Kelly McGregor (born 1965) is an Australian writer, performance artist and art critic whose third novel, '' Indelible Ink'', won the 2011 The Age Book of the Year award. Early life and education McGregor was born in Sydney, New South W ...

"Winning Words" by Jason Steger ''The Age'', 27 August 2011
/ref> *2010: '' Lovesong'' by

Alex Miller Alex Miller (born 4 July 1949) is a Scottish football manager and former player. As a player, he had a 15-year career with Rangers, winning several trophies. As a manager, he won the 1991–92 Scottish League Cup with Hibernian. He subsequen ...

'Simple love story' wins Age award
/ref> *2009: ''Things We Didn't See Coming'' by

Steven Amsterdam Steven Amsterdam (born in New York City on January 31, 1966) is an American writer. He lives in Melbourne, Australia, where he also works as a palliative care nurse. Biography Steven Amsterdam was born and raised in New York City. He attended Bro ...

Steger, Jason (2009) "Apocalyptic novel wins book of the year" in ''theage.com.au'', 22 August 2009
/ref> *2008: ''American Journeys'' by

Don Watson Don Watson (born 1949) is an Australian author, screenwriter, former political adviser, and speechwriter. Early life Watson was born in 1949 at Warragul in the Gippsland region of Victoria, and grew up on a farm in nearby Korumburra. Academi ...

Steger, Jason (2008) "US travel memoir wins Age Book of the Year Award" in ''theage.com.au'', 2008-08-23
/ref> *2007: ''Colonial Ambition: Foundations of Australian Democracy'' by Peter CochraneCassin, Ray (2007) "Entitled to tell a story" in ''theage.com.au'', 2007-08-25
/ref> *2006: ''Friendly Fire'' by

Jennifer Maiden Jennifer Maiden (born 1949) is an Australian poet. She was born in Penrith, New South Wales, and has had 36 books published: 28 poetry collections, 6 novels and 2 nonfiction works. Her current publishers are Quemar Press in Australia and Bloo ...

Poet of the political takes Age Book of the Year prize
/ref> *2005: ''Plenty: Digressions on Food'' by

Gay Bilson Berowra Waters Inn is a restaurant, owned and run by Head Chef Brian Geraghty, located at Berowra Waters along Berowra Creek (a tributary of the Hawkesbury River), near Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, 50 minutes from downtown Sydney, Austra ...

More than restaurants
/ref> *2004: ''Totem'' by

Luke Davies Luke Davies (born 1962) is an Australian writer of poetry, novels and screenplays. His best known works are '' Candy: A Novel of Love and Addiction'' (which was adapted for the screen in 2006) and the screenplay for the film '' Lion'', which e ...

Totem wins The Age Book of the Year
/ref> *2003: '' Of a Boy'' by

Sonya Hartnett Sonya Louise Hartnett (born 1968) is an Australian author of fiction for adults, young adults, and children. She has been called "the finest Australian writer of her generation". For her career contribution to "children's and young adult liter ...

The Austlit Gateway News September/October 2003
/ref> *2002: ''Recollections of a Bleeding Heart: Paul Keating PM'' by

*2001: ''Untold Lives and Later Poems'' by Rosemary Dobson"The Age" 25 August 2001, p12 *2000: ''Isobel on the Way to the Corner Shop'' by

Amy Witting Amy Witting (26 January 1918 – 18 September 2001) was the pen name of an Australian novelist and poet born Joan Austral Fraser. She was widely acknowledged as one of Australia's "finest fiction writers, whose work was full of the atmosphere an ...

*1999: ''Sacred Places: War Memorials in the Australian Landscape'' by K.S. Inglis"The Age" 14 August 1999, Sat Extra p9 *1998: ''

Three Dollars ''Three Dollars'' is a 2005 Australian film directed by Robert Connolly and starring David Wenham, Sarah Wynter, and Frances O'Connor. It was based on a 1998 novel of the same name by Elliot Perlman. It won the 2005 Australian Film Institute ...

'' by Elliot Perlman *1997: '' Jack Maggs'' by Peter Carey *1996: '' The Multiple Effects of Rainshadow'' by

Thea Astley Thea Beatrice May Astley (25 August 1925 – 17 August 2004) was an Australian novelist and short story writer. She was a prolific writer who was published for over 40 years from 1958. At the time of her death, she had won more Miles Franklin ...

*1995: '' The Future Eaters'' by

Tim Flannery Timothy Fridtjof Flannery (born 28 January 1956) is an Australian mammalogist, palaeontologist, environmentalist, conservationist, explorer, author, science communicator, activist and public scientist. He was awarded Australian of the Yea ...

*1994: '' The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith'' by Peter Carey *1993: ''The George's Wife'' by

Elizabeth Jolley Monica Elizabeth Jolley AO (4 June 1923 – 13 February 2007) was an English-born Australian writer who settled in Western Australia in the late 1950s and forged an illustrious literary career there. She was 53 when her first book was publishe ...

*1992: ''Lover's Knots'' by Marion Halligan *1991: ''Patrick White: A Life'' by David Marr *1990: ''Blessed City'' by

Gwen Harwood Gwen Harwood (née Gwendoline Nessie Foster, 8 June 19205 December 1995) was an Australian poet and librettist. Harwood is regarded as one of Australia's finest poets, publishing over 420 works, including 386 poems and 13 librettos. She won nu ...

*1989: ''Mariners are Warned: John Lort Stokes and HMA Beagle'' by Marsden Hordern *1988: ''Forty-Seventeen'' by

Frank Moorhouse Frank Thomas Moorhouse (21 December 1938 – 26 June 2022) was an Australian writer. He won major Australian national prizes for the short story, the novel, the essay, and for script writing. His work has been published in the United Kingdom, ...

"The Age" 9 December 1988, p14 *1987: ''Stories from the Warm Zone'' by Jessica Anderson *1986: ''Sister Ships'' by Joan London *1985: ''

Illywhacker ''Illywhacker'' is a novel by Australian writer Peter Carey. It was published in 1985 to commercial and critical success, winning a number of awards and being short-listed for the Booker Prize. Considered metafiction or magical realism, th ...

'' by Peter Carey *1984: ''The Bellarmine Jug'' by

Nicholas Hasluck Nicholas Paul Hasluck Order of Australia, AM (born 17 October 1942) is an Australian novelist, poet, short story writer, and former judge. Early life Nicholas Hasluck was born in Canberra. His father, Sir Paul Hasluck was a minister in the F ...

*1983: ''Mr Scobie's Riddle'' by

*1982: '' Fly Away Peter'' by

David Malouf David George Joseph Malouf AO (; born 20 March 1934) is an Australian poet, novelist, short story writer, playwright and librettist. Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2008, Malouf has lectured at both the University of Que ...

*1980: Joint winners :::''

A Woman of the Future ''A Woman of the Future'' (1979) is a novel by Australian author David Ireland (author), David Ireland. It won the Miles Franklin Award in 1979 and was joint winner of the Age Book of the Year award in 1980. As a result of this novel, Ireland ...

'' by David Ireland :::''

Homesickness Homesickness is the distress caused by being away from home.Kerns, Brumariu, Abraham. Kathryn A., Laura E., Michelle M.(2009/04/13). Homesickness at summer camp. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 54. Its cognitive hallmark is preoccupying thoughts of home ...

'' by

Murray Bail Murray Bail (born 22 September 1941) is an Australian writer of novels, short stories and non-fiction. In 1980 he shared the Age Book of the Year award for his novel ''Homesickness.'' He was born in Adelaide, South Australia. He has lived most ...

*1979: '' 1915'' by Roger McDonald *1978: '' The Year of Living Dangerously'' by

Christopher Koch Christopher John Koch AO (16 July 1932 – 23 September 2013) was an Australian novelist, known for his 1978 novel '' The Year of Living Dangerously'', which was adapted into an award-winning film. He twice won the Miles Franklin Award (for ' ...

*1976: ''A Late Picking'' by A. D. Hope *1975: '' A Kindness Cup'' by

*1974: ''

The Pure Land ''The Pure Land'' is a novel written by David Foster. The novel was published in 1974, and was Foster's first. It was the winner of the first The Age Book of the Year award. It is divided into four parts. Part One is set in 1930s Katoomba, New S ...

'' by

David Foster David Walter Foster (born November 1, 1949) is a Canadian musician, composer, arranger, record producer and music executive who chaired Verve Records from 2012 to 2016. He has won 16 Grammy Awards from 47 nominations. His music career spans mor ...

Fiction (or Imaginative Writing) Award

(Years link to corresponding "

in literature".) *2012: ''

Foal's Bread ''Foal's Bread'' is a 2011 novel by Australian author Gillian Mears. It was the winner of the 2012 ALS Gold Medal, the Age Book of the Year for Fiction, the Prime Minister's Literary Award for Fiction, and the Victorian Premier's Literary Award f ...

'' by

Gillian Mears Gillian Mears (21 July 1964 – 16 May 2016) was an Australian short story writer and novelist. Her books ''Ride a Cock Horse'' and ''The Grass Sister'' won a Commonwealth Writers' Prize, shortlist, in 1989 and 1996, respectively. ''The Mint La ...

*2011: '' Indelible Ink'' by

*2010: '' Lovesong'' by

*2009: ''Things We Didn't See Coming'' by

*2008: ''

Breath Breathing (or ventilation) is the process of moving air into and from the lungs to facilitate gas exchange with the internal environment, mostly to flush out carbon dioxide and bring in oxygen. All aerobic creatures need oxygen for cellular ...

'' by

Tim Winton Timothy John Winton (born 4 August 1960) is an Australian writer. He has written novels, children's books, non-fiction books, and short stories. In 1997, he was named a Living Treasure by the National Trust of Australia, and has won the Miles Fr ...

*2007: ''Every Move You Make'' by

*2006: '' Dead Europe'' by

Christos Tsiolkas Christos Tsiolkas is an Australian author, playwright, and screenwriter. He is especially known for '' The Slap'', which was both well-received critically and highly successful commercially. Several of his books have been adapted for film and t ...

*2005: ''

Sixty Lights ''Sixty Lights'' is a 2004 novel by Australian author Gail Jones. Themes The novel explores the themes of the family relationships, marriage, death and loss. Dedication "For my brothers, Peter and Kevin Jones." Awards *Booker Prize, 2004: lo ...

'' by Gail Jones *2004: '' The White Earth'' by Andrew McGahan *2003: '' Of a Boy'' by

*2002: ''

Gilgamesh sux, , label=none , image = Hero lion Dur-Sharrukin Louvre AO19862.jpg , alt = , caption = Possible representation of Gilgamesh as Master of Animals, grasping a lion in his left arm and snake in his right hand, in an Assyr ...

'' by Joan London *2001: ''

True History of the Kelly Gang ''True History of the Kelly Gang'' is a novel by Australian writer Peter Carey, based loosely on the history of the Kelly Gang. It was first published in Brisbane by the University of Queensland Press in 2000. It won the 2001 Booker Prize an ...

'' by Peter Carey *2000: ''Isobel on the Way to the Corner Shop'' by

*1999: ''The Deep Field'' by

James Bradley James Bradley (1692–1762) was an English astronomer and priest who served as the third Astronomer Royal from 1742. He is best known for two fundamental discoveries in astronomy, the aberration of light (1725–1728), and the nutation of th ...

*1998: ''

'' by Elliot Perlman *1997: '' Jack Maggs'' by Peter Carey *1996: '' The Multiple Effects of Rainshadow'' by

*1995: ''Billy Sunday'' by

Rod Jones Rod Jones may refer to: Sports American football *Rod Jones (cornerback) (born 1964), American football cornerback in the National Football League *Rod Jones (offensive lineman) (born 1974), American football tackle in the National Football League ...

*1994: '' The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith'' by Peter Carey *1993: ''The George's Wife'' by

*1992: ''Lover's Knots'' by Marion Halligan *1991: '' Double-Wolf'' by

Brian Castro Brian Albert Castro (born 16 January 1950) is an Australian novelist and essayist. Biography Castro was born in Hong Kong and has lived in Australia since 1961. He was Chair of Creative Writing (2008-2019) at the University of Adelaide and Di ...

*1990: '' Longleg'' by

Glenda Adams Glenda Emilie Adams (née Felton; 30 December 1939 – 11 July 2007) was an Australian novelist and short story writer, probably best known as the winner of the 1987 Miles Franklin Award for '' Dancing on Coral''. She was a teacher of creative ...

*1989: ''My Father's Moon'' by

*1988: ''Forty-Seventeen'' by

*1987: ''Stories from the Warm Zone'' by Jessica Anderson *1986: ''Sister Ships'' by Joan London *1985: ''

'' by Peter Carey *1984: ''The Bellarmine Jug'' by

*1983: ''Mr Scobie's Riddle'' by

*1982: '' Fly Away Peter'' by

*1981: ''Turtle Beach'' by Blanche d'Alpuget *1980: Joint winners :::''

'' by David Ireland :::''Homesickness'' by

*1979: '' 1915'' by Roger McDonald *1978: '' The Year of Living Dangerously'' by

*1976: ''A Late Picking'' by A. D. Hope *1975: '' A Kindness Cup'' by

*1974: ''

'' by

Non-fiction Award

*2012: ''1835: The Founding of Melbourne & The Conquest of Australia'' by James Boyce *2011: ''A Three-Cornered Life'' by

Jim Davidson James Cameron Davidson (born 13 December 1953) is an English stand-up comedian, actor, singer and TV presenter. He hosted the television shows '' Big Break'' and ''The Generation Game''. He also developed two adult pantomime shows such as ''B ...

*2010: ''Ten Hail Marys'' by Kate Howarth *2009: ''Down to the Crossroads'' by

Guy Rundle Guy or GUY may refer to: Personal names * Guy (given name) * Guy (surname) * That Guy (...), the New Zealand street performer Leigh Hart Places * Guy, Alberta, a Canadian hamlet * Guy, Arkansas, US, a city * Guy, Indiana, US, an unincor ...

*2008: ''American Journeys'' by

*2007: ''Colonial Ambition: Foundations of Australian Democracy'' by Peter Cochrane *2006: ''Velocity'' by Mandy Sayer *2005: ''Plenty: Digressions on Food'' by

*2004: ''A Death in Brazil'' by Peter Robb *2003: ''Charles Condor: The Last Bohemian'' by

Ann Galbally Ann Elizabeth Galbally (born 1945) is an Australian art historian and academic. Education and career Galbally was born in Victoria in 1945, daughter of Sheila Marie (née Kenny) and Labor Party politician, John William Galbally. She gradua ...

*2002: ''Recollections of a Bleeding Heart: Paul Keating Prime Minister'' by

*2001: ''The Life and Myth of Charmian Clift'' by

Nadia Wheatley Nadia Wheatley is an Australian writer whose work includes picture books, novels, biography and history. Perhaps best known for her classic picture book ''My Place'' (illustrated by Donna Rawlins), the author's biography of Charmian Clift was ...

*2000: ''Craft for a Dry Lake'' by

Kim Mahood Kim Mahood (born 1953) is an Australian writer and artist based in Wamboin, Wamboin, New South Wales. She spends several months each year in the Tanami Desert, Tanami and Great Sandy Desert regions where she grew up. Mahood grew up on Mongrel ...

*1999: ''Sacred Places: War Memorials in the Australian Landscape'' by K.S. Inglis *1998: ''The Hunt'' by John Kinsella *1997: ''Snake Cradle'' by

Roberta Sykes Roberta "Bobbi" Sykes (16 August 194314 November 2010) was an Australian poet and author. She was a lifelong campaigner for Indigenous land rights, as well as human rights and women's rights. Early life and education Born Roberta Barkley Patt ...

*1995: ''The Future Eaters'' by

*1994: ''Lyrebird Rising'' by

*1993: ''Journeyings'' by

Janet McCalman Janet Susan McCalman, (born 5 December 1948) is an Australian social historian, population researcher and author at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne. McCalman won the Ernest Scott Prize in 1984 and 20 ...

*1992: ''A Fence Around the Cuckoo'' by

Ruth Park Rosina Ruth Lucia Park AM (24 August 191714 December 2010) was a New Zealand–born Australian author. Her best known works are the novels '' The Harp in the South'' (1948) and ''Playing Beatie Bow'' (1980), and the children's radio serial '' ...

*1991: ''Patrick White: A Life'' by David Marr *1990: ''Blessed City'' by

*1989: ''Mariners are Warned: John Lort Stokes and HMA Beagle'' by Marsden Hordern *1988: ''Big-Noting: The Heroic Theme in Australian War Writing'' by Robin Gerster *1987: ''

The Fatal Shore ''The Fatal Shore: The Epic of Australia's Founding'' by Robert Hughes is a history of the early years of British colonisation of Australia, and especially the history and social effects of Britain's convict transportation system. It also ad ...

'' by Robert Hughes *1986: ''George Johnston: A Biography'' by

Garry Kinnane Garry may refer to: Names *Gary (given name) or Garry *Garry (surname) Places * Cape Garry, South Shetlands *Fort Garry, Winnipeg, a district in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada *Garry Lake, Nunavut, Canada *Rural Municipality of Garry No. 245, Sa ...

*1985: ''Vietnam: A Reporter's War'' by Hugh Lunn; ''Mapping the Paddocks'' by Chester Eagle *1984: ''HB Higgins: The Rebel and Judge'' by John Rickard *1983: ''History of Tasmania'' by

Lloyd Robson Leslie Lloyd Robson (1931-1990) was an Australian historian and academic at the University of Melbourne. He pioneered new techniques of quantitative history, and wrote ''A History of Tasmania,'' a two volume work on the history of Australia's isl ...

*1982: ''John Monash: A Biography'' by

Geoffrey Serle Alan Geoffrey Serle (10 March 1922 – 27 April 1998), known as Geoff, was an Australian historian, who is best known for his books on the colony of Victoria; ''The Golden Age'' (1963) and ''The Rush to be Rich'' (1971) and his biographies of J ...

*1981: '' A Million Wild Acres'' by

Eric Charles Rolls Eric Charles Rolls AM (1923–2007) was an Australian writer. Life Rolls was born in Grenfell, New South Wales in 1923, and died in Camden Haven in 2007. He attended the Sydney selective school of Fort Street High, before serving in the second ...

*1978: ''The Anzacs'' by Patsy Adam-Smith *1976: ''Capitalism, Socialism and the Environment'' by

Hugh Stretton Emeritus, Professor emeritus Hugh Stretton (15 July 1924 – 18 July 2015) was an Australian historian who wrote books on politics, urban planning and economics, and a Rhodes Scholar. He was a key figure in the development and implementation of ...

*1974: ''A History of Australia (Vol. 3)'' by

Manning Clark Charles Manning Hope Clark, (3 March 1915 – 23 May 1991) was an Australian historian and the author of the best-known general history of Australia, his six-volume ''A History of Australia'', published between 1962 and 1987. He has been descri ...

Dinny O'Hearn Poetry Prize

(Years link to corresponding "

in poetry" articles.) *2012: ''The Brokenness Sonnets I-III And Other Poems'' by Mal McKimmie *2011: ''Starlight: 150 Poems'' by John Tranter *2010: ''Pirate Rain'' by

*2009: ''Better Than God'' by Peter Porter *2008: ''Not Finding Wittgenstein'' by

J. S. Harry J. S. Harry or Jan Harry (4 January 1939 – 20 May 2015) was an Australian poet described as "one of Australian poetry’s keenest satirists, political and social commentators, and perhaps its most ethical agent and antagonist." J. S. Harry was ...

*2007: ''The Goldfinches of Baghdad'' by Robert Adamson *2006: ''Friendly Fire'' by

*2005: ''The Colosseum'' by Dipti Saravanamuttu *2004: ''Totem'' by

*2003: ''Mangroves'' by

Laurie Duggan Laurence James Duggan (born 1949), known as Laurie Duggan, is an Australian poet, editor, and translator. Life Laurie Duggan was born in Melbourne and attended Monash University, where his friends included the poets Alan Wearne and John A. Sc ...

*2002: ''After Images'' by Robert Gray *2001: ''Untold Lives and Later Poems'' by Rosemary Dobson *2000: ''Empty Texas'' by Peter Minter *1999: ''The Impossible, and other Poems'' by R. A. Simpson *1998: ''The Hunt and Other Poems'' by John Kinsella *1997: Joint winners :::''Dragons in their Pleasant Places'' by Peter Porter :::''The Wild Reply'' by Emma Lew *1996: ''Weeping for Lost Babylon'' by Eric Beach *1995: ''Selected poems 1956–1994'' by Chris Wallace-Crabbe *1994: ''

The Monkey's Mask ''The Monkey's Mask'' is an international co-production 2000 thriller film directed by Samantha Lang. It stars Susie Porter and Kelly McGillis. Porter plays a lesbian private detective who falls in love with a suspect (McGillis) in the disappeara ...

'' by

Dorothy Porter Dorothy Featherstone Porter (26 March 1954 – 10 December 2008) was an Australian poet. She was a recipient of the Christopher Brennan Award for lifetime achievement in poetry. Early life Porter was born in Sydney. Her father was barrister ...

*1993: ''At the Florida'' by John Tranter

First Book

*2005: ''The Unknown Zone'' by Phil SmithReview
/ref>

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Age Book of the Year Australian fiction awards Australian poetry awards Awards established in 1974 1974 establishments in Australia