The Magarey Medal for Biography is awarded biennially to the female person who has published the work judged to be the best biographical writing on an Australian subject.
The Magarey Medal will be awarded next in July 2026 for a book published in 2024 or 2025.
Applications will open mid-2025 and close 31 January 2026.
Terms and conditions
Nominations are invited for a published biography in the form of a book on an Australian subject by a female author in the two years prior to the year of the award. Nominations may be made either by the author or, with the nominee’s permission, by the book’s publishers or by any member of the Australian Historical Association (AHA) or the Association for the Study of Australian Literature (ASAL).
The award will be presented at the conference of AHA or the ASAL in alternate years. If two winners are chosen, the prize will be shared between them.
Eligibility
Authors must be female, and co-authored books with males are not eligible. Works of autobiography are also not eligible for the Magarey Medal. Please contact the AHA if you wish to clarify eligibility.
Applications
An intention to submit should be emailed prior to the application deadline, to executive@theaha.org.auAn intention to submit email, outlining the author, title and publisher of the nominated text, should be sent prior to the application deadline, to the AHA Administrative Officer, executive@theaha.org.au by 30 September 2025.
Applications must include a completed application form and three copies of the nominated work. Completed applications can be sent to:
Administrative Officer, AHA
PO Box 1118,
Dickson, ACT 2602
The AHA strives to conduct its activities sustainably. Please note that, subject to the preference of the judging panel, this prize may require digital submissions, hard copy submissions, or a combination thereof, in order to reduce its environmental impact.
Closing date for applications will be 31 January in the year of the Award.
Selection process
The awarding of the prize is administered and judged by a panel of three judges established by the AHA and the ASAL. The judges’ decision is final.