Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship

The Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship was set up in 2011 in memory of Hazel Rowley by her sister, Della Rowley and friends, in association with Writers Victoria Inc. The Fellowship was originally valued at AU$10,000, but was increased to AU$15,000 in 2017 and then to AU$20,000 in 2022. The Fellowship will conclude after its 15th edition in 2026.

Winners YearAuthorProject2012Mary Hobanbiography of Julia Arnold, published in 2019 as An Unconventional Wife: The life of Julia Sorell Arnold2013Stephany Steggallbiography of Thomas Keneally, published in 2015 as Interestingly enough... : The life of Tom Keneally2014Maxine Beneba Clarkememoir, The Hate Race, published in 20162015Caroline Baumbiography of Lucie Dreyfus2016Matthew Lambbiography of Frank Moorhouse, published in 2023 as Frank Moorhouse: Strange Paths 2017Ann-Marie Priestbiography of Gwen Harwood, published in 2022 as My Tongue Is My Own: a life of Gwen Harwood2018Jacqueline Kentbiography of Vida Goldstein, published in 2020 as Vida: A woman for our time2019Eleanor Hoganbiography of Ernestine Hill and Daisy Bates, published in 2021 as Into the Loneliness : The unholy alliance of Ernestine Hill and Daisy Bates2020Lance Richardsonbiography of Peter Matthiessen, published in 2025 as True Nature: The Lives of Peter Matthiessen2021Mandy Sayerbiography of Australian silent filmmakers, the McDonagh sisters, published in 2022 as Those Dashing McDonagh Sisters: Australia's First Female Filmmaking Team2022Naomi Parry Duncanbiography of Gai-mariagal man, Musquito2023Diane Bellbiography of Louisa Karpany and George Mason, ‘The Queen and the Protector’2024Kate Fullagarbiography of Marguerite Wolters2025Michelle Staffbiography of Bessie Rischbieth and Olive Evans2026The winner of the 2026 Fellowship is Jennifer Martin, for a biography of journalist Eva Sommer.Jennifer Martinbiography of journalist Eva Sommer

Shortlists Year Author Project2012Patrick AllingtonMartin EdmondMary HobanAnne HouenHeather LongChris PashLoretta SmithMichelle Scott TuckerSally Percival Wood2013Lisa MilnerJohn MurphyHelen O'NeillSheridan PalmerAnn-Marie PriestStephany SteggalElizabeth Taylor2014Maxine Beneba Clarkeautobiography – The Hate RaceLesley Harding and Kendrah MorganJohn and Sunday Reed – Rebels with a CauseRodney Jamesart critic Alan McCulloch – Letters to a CriticSylvia MartinAmy Witting – The SurvivorMichelle Potterauthorised biography of Margaret ScottRuth Starkepolitician Don Dunstan – Between the LinesWarren Wardthe love lives of seven philosophers – Lovers of PhilosophyNadia WheatleyA Memoir of Memory2015Patrick AllingtonAustralian writer David MaloufCaroline BaumLucie DreyfusBarry DivolaHappy Man – Australian band The Sunnyboys and singer-songwriter Jeremy OxleyLyn GallacherDiscurio record store owners Ruth and Peter MannNaomi ParryIndigenous bushranger MusquitoAnn-Marie PriestAustralian poet Gwen HarwoodRonnie ScottAgatha Christie – her journey across three countriesBiff Wardmemoir – Vietnam, Mon Amour2016Shannon BurnsAustralian writer Gerald MurnanePhilip DwyerNapoleon Bonaparte – volume 3Kitty Hauserart teacher Geoffrey BardonEleanor Hogan"Into the Loneliness: The Literary Alliance of Ernestine Hill and Daisy Bates"Sharon HuebnerNoongar woman Bessy FlowersJacqueline KentRobert HelpmannMatthew LambFrank MoorhouseAlec O'HalloranMick Namarari TjapaltjarriJeff SparrowAfrican-American singer Paul Robeson2017Peter EdwardsRobert Marsden HopeThornton McCamishactor Robert HughesCraig MunroLiterary Lions – A. G. Stephens, P. R. 'Inky' Stephensen, Beatrice Davis and Kenneth SlessorAnn-Marie Priestpoet Gwen HarwoodJudith PughArtist in a Suit – William Dargie Suzanne SpunnerIndigenous artist Rover ThomasTerri-ann Whiteepidemiologist Fiona Stanley2018Catherine Bishop"Annie Lock: A Challenging Woman"Clem GormanAustralian artist David RankinJillian GrahamAustralian composer Margaret SutherlandDiana James"Open Hearted Country: Nganyinytja's Story"Jacqueline KentVida GoldsteinDrusilla Modjeskamemoir, First Half Second: Volume 2Andrew RamseyMark Oliphant and Ernest RutherfordJudith White"Colin Lanceley: The Artist's World"2019James BoyceGovernor Lachlan MacquarieStephenie CahalanAustralian artist Jean BelletteGabrielle CareyAustralian writer Elizabeth von ArnimEleanor HoganAustralian writers Ernestine Hill and Daisy BatesDiana James"Open Hearted Country: Nganyinytja's Story"James MairataAustralian producer Hal McElroyBrigitta OlubasAustralian writer Shirley HazzardMaggie TonkinAustralian choreographer Meryl Tankard2020Margo BeasleyAustralian doctor and political activist Eric DarkDiane Bell"The Queen and the Protector" – Ngarrindjeri woman Louisa Karpany and South Australian "Sub-Protector of Aborigines" George MasonTegan Bennett DaylightNew Zealand-born writer Ruth ParkStephenie CahalanAustralian artist Jean BelletteGabrielle CareyAustralian writer Elizabeth von Arnim – Highly commendedMadelaine DickieKimberley Indigenous leader Wayne BergmannShakira Husseinmemoir – "Nine Eleven-itis"Lance RichardsonAmerican writer, naturalist and Zen Buddhist Peter MatthiessenSuzanne Robinson"Decadent Melbourne" – art, artists and immorality in the 1890s2021Jillian GrahamAustralian composer and arts activist Margaret SutherlandAmanda LourieEnglish-born Australian anthropologist and explorer A. W. HowittJo OliverAustralian artist Adelaide PerrySheila Ngoc PhamAustralian science-fiction writer and psychotherapist Anne Spencer ParryKate RiceAustralian mother and daughter Marian Dunn and Marian Marcus ClarkeMandy SayerAustralia's first female filmmakers – the McDonagh sistersMichelle Scott Tuckermemoir for Torres Strait Islander Aaron Fa'aoso2022Lorin Clarkememoir of her father, John ClarkeMelanie Duckworthbiography of Christobel MattingleyHannah Finkbiography of Rosalie GascoigneKelly Gellatlybiography of Rosalie GascoigneSylvia Martinartists Eirene Mort and Nora Kate Wilson (highly commended)Mark Morduebiography of Nick CaveAunty Joy Murphy and Jessica Hortonbiography of Aunty Joy’s father, Jarlo WandoonNaomi Parry Duncanbiography of Gai-mariagal man, MusquitoMichelle Nayahamui Rooneybiography of Nahau Rooney2023Diane Bellbiography of Louisa Karpany and George MasonGabrielle Careybiography of Alex CareyAunty Elly Chatfieldmemoir of her Stolen Generations experienceCarolyn Dowleybiography of Sadie CanningJane McCrediebiography of Jane EastmentJo Oliverbiography of Yvonne BoydBelinda Probertbiography of Bill Probert, 'Secrets and War: Ambition and identity in 20th-century Britain'Charlie Wardbiography of Jean Zakaria/XullwySusan Wyndhambiography of Elizabeth Harrower2024Kate Fullagarbiography of Marguerite WoltersSophie Cullbiography of Calvin DuncanCarolyn Dowleybiography of Sadie CanningErik Jensenbiography of Rafael Bonachela, Sydney Dance CompanyJane McCrediebiography of Jane EastmentSuzanne Robinson"Becoming Modern: Australian women composers in London between the wars"Michelle Scott Tuckerbiography of Louisa LawsonHelen Trincabiography of Elizabeth HarrowerCharlie Wardbiography of Jean Zakaria and family2025Michelle Staffbiography of Bessie Rischbieth and Olive EvansLucas Jordan"Touching the dream-dime"Jennifer Martinbiography of Eva SommerJo Oliverbiography of Isobel RaeMonique Rooneybiography of Ruth ParkMelanie Sawardmemoir, "With the Feathers"Michelle Scott Tuckerbiography of Louisa LawsonYen Tranmemoir of her Vietnamese familyJulienne van Loonbiographical essays on women scientists2026Cath Bowdler"Afterburn" on the 2019–2020 Black Summer firesTheodore Ellbiography of Les MurrayJillian Grahambiography of Elena Kats-CherninAli Keshtkarmemoir, "Twelve Hours to Silence"Flavia MarcelloItalian resistance fighter Carla CapponiJennifer Martinbiography of Eva SommerMonique Rooneybiography of Ruth ParkJeff Sparrowpoet and activist Lesbia HarfordAshleigh Wilsonbiography of Barry Humphries

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