The National Book Council Banjo Awards were presented by the National Book Council of Australia from 1974 to 1997 for works of fiction and non-fiction. The name commemorates the bush poet Andrew Barton Banjo Paterson. The Council has enjoyed notable leadership including Justice Michael Kirby and Professor Michael Fraser (1991–1998). Many notable Australian writers have been recipients for this award, including Peter Carey, Tim Winton, Alan Gould, Liam Davison, Sally Morrison, and Roger McDonald. In 1978 Helen Garner was the first woman to win the award for her novel Monkey Grip. The current Banjo Paterson Writing Award, established in 1991, is separate from the above awards, although similarly aims to commemorate the work of Banjo Paterson.
Winners
Source:
Fiction
1975 William Nagle for The Odd Angry Shot
1978 Helen Garner for Monkey Grip
1981 David Foster for Moonlight
1982 Peter Carey for Bliss
1985 Peter Carey for Illywhacker
1988 Graeme Harper for Black Cat, Green Field
1989 Peter Carey for Oscar and Lucinda
1991 Glenda Adams for Longleg and Tim Winton for Cloudstreet
1992 Alan Gould for To the Burning City
1993 Liam Davison for Soundings
1994 Elizabeth Jolley for The Georges' Wife
1995 Sally Morrison for Mad Meg
1996 Rod Jones for Billy Sunday
1997 Brian Castro for Stepper
Non-fiction
1978 Kevin Gilbert for Living Black: Blacks Talk to Kevin Gilbert (1977) 1981 Albert Facey for A Fortunate Life 1993 Roger McDonald for Shearers' Motel 1994 Hazel Rowley for Christina Stead: A Biography (1994) 1996 Henry Reynolds
Notes
Notable shortlisted authors include
Matthew Condon was shortlisted in 1992 for Usher and in 1995 for The Ancient Guild of Tycoons, Robert Dessaix for A Mother's Disgrace in 1994. Garry Disher for The Sunken Road in 1996. Richard Flanagan for Death of a River Guide (1995) David Foster (novelist) for The Glade Within the Grove, 1996 Rodney Hall for Captivity Captive in 1989 and The Grisly Wife in 1994. Marion Halligan for Spider Cup in 1990 and Lovers' Knots: A Hundred-Year Novel in 1993 Susan Johnson (Australian author) A Big Life (1993); Alex Miller for The Ancestor Game (1993)
For other Australian literary awards, see List of Australian literary awards.