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.
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
The 2026 Magarey Medal for Biography will be facilitated by ASAL. Please head to the ASAL website for details about the application process.
Judging
The awarding of the prize is administered and judged by a panel of three judges established by the AHA and the ASAL.
No feedback will be given on applications. Judges’ decisions are final.