HISTORY AWARD

Beginning in 2004, the Minister for Culture and Arts agreed to establish a separate category for History in the Premier’s Book Awards.  This will be over and above the existing two Non-Fiction Awards and will be worth $7,500. It is intended that candidates for the History Award will enter the Non-Fiction category, but will indicate if they wish to be considered for the History Award.  Then strict criteria (as recommended by the History Council) will determine their eligibility.  In the event that they are eligible for the History Award, but are not short-listed, they will be considered for the two Non-Fiction Awards.

Eligibility Criteria

A significant historical work that makes a major contribution to our understanding of the Western Australian past

Judging Criteria

Original in conception

Provides a new interpretation

Includes majority Western Australian content

Follows accepted scholarly methodology and referencing practices

Uses Western Australian archival sources

Not based solely on photographic or oral sources

Historical biography is eligible

Autobiography and memoir are not eligible

Single or multi-authored are eligible

In the case of a multi-authored work, the prize money should be awarded to the editors on the understanding that it will be used to contribute to further historical research and writing.

The Award Winners to date have been:

2004

2005

2006 - Cleared Out: First Contact in the Western Desert by Sue Davenport and Peter Johnson