The Queensland Literary Awards is an awards program established in 2012 by the Queensland literary community, funded by sponsors and administered by the State Library of Queensland. Like the former Queensland Premier's Literary Awards, the QLAs celebrate and promote outstanding Australian writing. The awards aim to seek out, recognize and nurture great talent in Australian writing. They draw national and international attention to some of our best writers and to Queensland's recognition of outstanding Australian literature and publishing.
These awards have a focus on supporting new writing through the Emerging Queensland Writer – Manuscript Award and Unpublished Indigenous writer – David Unaipon Award. "They give local writers and new writers something to aspire to." "Literary Awards: Early own-goal from Premier Newman"
In March 2026 the State Library of Queensland announced that had ended its management. The awards will be organised through the Brisbane Writers Festival in future.
History The Queensland Literary Awards was established by a not-for-profit association of passionate Queensland volunteers and advocates for literature, in response to Queensland Premier Campbell Newman disestablishing the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards in 2012."New premier tears up literary awards" , 3 April 2012, The Sydney Morning Herald
In 2012 and 2013 the program was run by a volunteer workforce. Following consultation with the QLA Inc. governing committee, 2014 saw the management of the QLA transition to State Library of Queensland (SLQ). While SLQ took on a leadership role in delivering the program, the aim was to continue to build on the existing collaborative model where the community and writing sector partners are key stakeholders.
The original Premier's awards were established by Peter Beattie, the then Premier of Queensland in 1998 and first awarded in 1999.
Award categories There are currently twelve award categories including: Queensland Premier's Award for a work of State Significance Queensland Premier's Young Publishers and Writers Award Queensland Writers Fellowships The University of Queensland Fiction Book Award The University of Queensland Non-Fiction Book Award Young Adult Book Award Children's Book Award University of Southern Queensland Steele Rudd Award for a Short Story Collection Judith Wright Calanthe Award for a Poetry Collection David Unaipon Award for an Emerging Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Writer Glendower Award for an Emerging Queensland Writer The Courier-Mail People's Choice Queensland Book of the Year
Judging The awards are judged by independent panels of writers, critics, journalists, academics and booksellers. They are presented to works the judges determine possess the highest literary merit.
Winners
2025 The shortlist was announced in early September 2025. Winners were announced on 26 September 2025. +List of 2025 Queensland Literary Awards RecipientsCategoryAuthorTitleResultQueensland Premier's Award for a Work of State SignificanceAmy McQuireBlack WitnessWinnerLech BlaineAustralian Gospel: A Family SagaFinalistSimon ClearyEverything is WaterCheryl Leavy & Christopher BassiYanga MotherDarren Rix & Craig CormickWarra Warra WaiThe University of Queensland Non-Fiction Book AwardClare WrightNäku Dhäruk: The Bark PetitionsWinnerSantilla ChingaipeBlack ConvictsFinalist Helen Garner The SeasonStan GrantMurriyang: Song of timeDarren Rix & Craig CormickWarra Warra WaiThe University of Queensland Fiction Book AwardEmily MaguireRaptureWinnerLaura ElveryNightingaleFinalist Charlotte McConaghy Wild Dark ShoreJosephine RoweLittle WorldGretchen ShirmOut of the WoodsYoung Adult Book AwardC. G. DrewsDon't Let the Forest InWinnerLauren DraperReturn to SenderFinalistKate GordonMy Brother, FinchErin GoughInto the Mouth of the WolfAmbelin KwaymullinaLiar's TestChildren's Book AwardSandy BignaLittle BonesWinnerSophie BeerThunderheadFinalistAaron Fa'Aoso & Michelle Scott TuckerSpirit of the CrocodileKatrina NannestadAll the Beautiful ThingsShivaun PlozzaSummer of ShipwrecksJudith Wright Calanthe Award for a Poetry CollectionChris AndrewsThe Oblong PlotWinnerJudith BeveridgeTintinnabulumFinalistLuke JohnsonKangaroo UnboundIsabella G. MeadThe Infant VineAlan WearneMixed BusinessThe Courier-Mail People's Choice Queensland Book of the Year AwardLaura ElveryNightingaleWinnerSantilla ChingaipeBlack ConvictsFinalistSimon ClearyEverything is WaterAnita HeissDirrayawadhaGrantlee KiezaAnnette Kellerman, Australian MermaidTess MerlinRed Dirt Blue LightsSteve MinOnFirst Name Second NameGari Tudor-Smith, Paul Williams & Felicity MeakinsBina: First Nations Languages, Old and NewDavid Unaipon Award for an Emerging Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander WriterE. S. Crismani"Finding Billy Brown"WinnerVika Mana"Eskos"FinalistB. S. Windon"Neurodiverging Into [He]ARTS"Queensland Writers FellowshipsVuong Pham"Reborn"WinnerMykaela Saunders"Dear Uncle"Glendower Award for Emerging Queensland AuthorGillian Hagenus"Commonplaces"WinnerBronte Coates"The Curse"FinalistMindy Gill"Easy Living"Karen Lee"The Burning Season"Dani Ringrose"The Lyrebirds"Queensland Premier’s Young Publishers and Writers AwardAlex PhilpWinnerSean WestOlivia J. BennettFinalistSvetlana Sterlin
2024 The shortlist was announced on 1 August 2024. Winners were announced on 5 September 2024. +List of 2024 Queensland Literary Awards RecipientsCategoryAuthorTitleResultQueensland Premier's Award for a Work of State SignificanceMelissa LucashenkoEdenglassieWinnerGraham AkhurstBorderland FinalistKris Kneen Fat Girl DancingJ. M. Tolcher PoofEllen van NeervenPersonal Score: Sport, Culture, IdentityThe University of Queensland Non-Fiction Book AwardAbbas El-ZeinBullet, Paper, Rock: A Memoir of Words and WarsWinnerJames BradleyDeep Water: The World In the OceanFinalistBonny CassidyMonumentAntony LoewensteinThe Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the WorldEllen van NeervenPersonal Score: Sport, Culture, IdentityThe University of Queensland Fiction Book AwardSharlene AllsoppThe Great UndoingWinnerKatherine BrabonBody FriendFinalistYumna Kassab Politica Siang Lu Ghost CitiesMelissa LucashenkoEdenglassieYoung Adult Book Awardsydney khooThe Spider and Her DemonsWinnerGraham Akhurst BorderlandFinalistBarry JonsbergSmoke & MirrorsWill KostakisWe Could Be Something Ann LiangI Hope This Doesn't Find YouChildren's Book AwardKaren ComerSunshine on Vinegar StreetWinnerTrace BallaLeaf-light FinalistPeter CarnavasLeo and Ralph Jaclyn Moriarty, illustrated by Kelly CanbyThe Impossible Secret of Lillian VelvetBlake NutoWhen You're a BoySteele Rudd Award for a Short Story CollectionJohn MorrisseyFirelightWinnerDavid CohenThe Terrible EventFinalistMagdalena McGuireBorn For YouLaura Jean McKayGunflowerJohn RichardsThe Gorgon FlowerJudith Wright Calanthe Award for a Poetry CollectionL. K. HoltThree BooksWinnerManisha Anjali Naag MountainFinalistJarad BruinstroopReliefsMitchell WelchVehicular ManPetra WhiteThat Galloping HorseThe Courier-Mail People's Choice Queensland Book of the Year AwardCarly-Jay MetcalfeBreathWinnerSharlene AllsoppThe Great UndoingFinalistMelissa AshleyThe Naturalist of AmsterdamWendy CooperThe Bird Art of William T. CooperAnna JacobsonHow to Knit a HumanGrantlee KiezaThe Remarkable Mrs ReibeySiang LuGhost CitiesAnna McGahanImmaculateDavid Unaipon Award for an Emerging Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander WriterDominic GuerreraNative RageWinnerChella GoldwinPoliticsFinalistLulu Houdini River PageQueensland Writers FellowshipsJarad Bruinstroop"For the Duration"WinnerSarah Kanake"Lazarus; or, The Whale"Cheryl Leavy"Mudhunda—Song Country"Glendower Award for Emerging Queensland AuthorEmily LighezzoloLife DrawingWinnerMyles McGuire Tender AgeFinalistNicky Peelgrane EndGainLillian TelfordLovesickQueensland Premier’s Young Publishers and Writers AwardGavin Yuan Gao WinnerMyles McGuire Wallea EaglehawkFinalistAlex PhilipSean West
2023 The winners were announced on 6 September 2023. +List of 2023 Queensland Literary Awards RecipientsCategoryAuthorTitleResultQueensland Premier's Award for a Work of State SignificanceSarah Holland-BattThe JaguarWinnerDebra DankWe Come With This PlaceFinalistKate FosterThe Bravest WordSally PiperBone MemoriesAlexis WrightPraiseworthyThe Courier-Mail People's Choice Queensland Book of the Year AwardSita WalkerThe God of No GoodWinnerDebra DankWe Come With This PlaceFinalistVeronica LandoThe WhisperingKate MortonHomecomingSally PiperBone MemoriesHolly RinglandThe Seven Skins of Esther WildingMarion Stell The Bodyline FixPenny van OosterzeeCloud Land The University of Queensland Fiction Book AwardAlexis WrightPraiseworthyWinnerGeraldine BrooksHorseFinalistFiona McFarlaneThe Sun Walks DownMichael MeehanAn Ungrateful InstrumentShaun PrescottBon and LesleyThe University of Queensland Non-Fiction Book AwardDebra DankWe Come With This PlaceWinnerJoëlle GergisHumanity’s MomentFinalistLouisa LimIndelible CityAnna Spargo-RyanA Kind of MagicSam WallmanOur Members Be UnlimitedJudith Wright Calanthe Award for a Poetry CollectionLionel FogartyHarvest LingoWinnerMichael FarrellGooglecholia FinalistAutumn RoyalThe Drama StudentSimon TedeschiFugitiveRae WhiteExactly As I AmUniversity of Southern Queensland Steele Rudd Award for a Short Story CollectionKaterina GibsonWomen I KnowWinnerPaul Dalla RosaAn Exciting and Vivid Inner LifeFinalistElse FitzgeraldEverything Feels Like the End of the WorldChris FlynnHere Be LeviathansGriffith University Young Adult Book AwardBiffy JamesCompletely Normal (and Other Lies)WinnerHelena FoxThe Quiet and the LoudFinalistNina KenwoodUnnecessary DramaAnn LiangIf You Could See the SunJared ThomasMy Spare HeartChildren's Book AwardKatrina NannestadWaiting for the StorksWinnerZana FraillonThe Way of DogFinalistBob GrahamJigsaw: A Puzzle in the PostHakea Hustler, Carl Merrison & Samantha CampbellMy Deadly BootsGabrielle WangZadie Ma and the Dog Who Chased the MoonQueensland Premier's Young Publishers and Writers AwardJasmin McGaugheyWinnerJonathan O'BrienMyles McGuireFinalistAlex PhilpSean WestQueensland Writers FellowshipsAl CampbellDoor 64WinnerB. R. DionysiusThe Eromanga SeaMelanie SawardThe Next ChapterGlendower Award for Emerging Queensland AuthorSteve MinOnFirst Name, Second NameWinnerFernanda Dahlstrom The See-SawFinalistSandra Minke TreasureMargot Shave Exchange MeDavid Unaipon Award for an Emerging Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait WriterMaria van NeervenTo Give Them a VoiceWinnerLulu HoudiniguniimaraFinalistBrooke Scobie Always and Again
2022 The winners were announced on 8 September 2022.