TheNational Biography Award, established in Australia in 1996, is awarded for the best published work of biographical or autobiographical writing by an Australian. It aims "to encourage the highest standards of writingbiography andautobiography and to promote public interest in those genres".^[1] It was initially awarded every two years, but from 2002 it has been awarded annually. Its administration was taken over by theState Library of New South Wales in 1998.

It was originally endowed by private benefactor, Dr. Geoffrey Cains, and the original prize money was $12,500. In 2002, Cains said of endowing the award that "I wanted to give back to literature something, it had given me so much; besides, philanthropy in this country is so overlooked and diminished".^[2] In 2005, the prize money was increased to $20,000 with the support ofMichael Crouch.^[3]Belinda Hutchinson, former President of the Library Council of NSW, expressed gratitude for this increase to "an award that celebrates the Australian psyche through distinguished biography writing."^[3]

In 2012 the prize money for the Award has been increased to $25,000. Since 2013, each shortlisted author receives $1,000.^[4] The judging panel varies from year to year. In 2018 the Michael Crouch Award was introduced for an Australian writer's first published biography.^[5]

The shortlist is announced in early July each year, followed by the winner announcement in early August.

• 2024: Lamisse Hamouda forThe Shape of Dust: a father wrongly imprisoned. A daughter's quest to free him^[6][5]
• 2023: Ann-Marie Priest forMy Tongue Is My Own: A Life of Gwen Harwood^[7]
• 2022:Bernadette Brennan forLeaping into Waterfalls: The Enigmatic Gillian Mears^[8][9]
• 2021:Cassandra Pybus forTruganini: Journey Through the Apocalypse^[10][11]
• 2020: Patrick Mullins forTiberius with a Telephone: The Life and Stories of William McMahon^[12][13]
• 2019:Behrouz Boochani forNo Friend But the Mountains: Writing from Manus Prison^[14]
• 2018:Judith Brett forThe Enigmatic Mr Deakin^[15]
• 2017:Tom D C Roberts forBefore Rupert: Keith Murdoch and the Birth of a Dynasty^[16][17]
• 2016:Brenda Niall forMannix^[18][19]
• 2015: Philip Butterss forAn Unsentimental Bloke: The Life and Work of C J Dennis^[20]
• 2014: Alison Alexander forThe Ambitions of Jane Franklin: Victorian Lady Adventurer^[21]
• 2013: Peter Fitzpatrick forThe Two Frank Thrings^[22]
• 2012:Martin Thomas forThe Many Worlds of R. H. Mathews: In Search of an Australian Anthropologist^[23]
• 2011:Alasdair McGregor forGrand Obsessions: The Life and Work of Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin^[24]
• 2010:Brian Matthews forManning Clark: A Life^[24]
• 2009: Ann Blainey forI am Melba^[24]
• 2008: Joint winners^[24]
  • Philip Dwyer forNapoleon, 1769-1799: The Path to Power
  • Graham Seal forThese Few Lines: A Convict Story – The Lost Lives of Myra and William Sykes
• 2007:Jacob Rosenberg forEast of Time^[24]
• 2006:John Hughes forThe Idea of Home^[24]
• 2005: Robert Hillman forThe Boy in the Green Suit^[24]
• 2004:Barry Hill forBroken Song: T.G.H. Strehlow and Aboriginal Possession^[24]
• 2003: Joint winners^[24]
  • Peter Rose forRose Boys
  • Don Watson forRecollections of a Bleeding Heart : a Portrait of Paul Keating PM
• 2002:Jacqueline Kent forA Certain Style: Beatrice Davis, a Literary Life^[24]
• 2000: Joint winners^[24]
  • Peter Robb forM, a biography of European painter Caravaggio
  • Mandy Sayer forDreamtime Alice: a Memoir
• 1998:Roberta Sykes forSnake Cradle^[24]
• 1996: Abraham Biderman forThe World of My Past^[24]

In 2003, the National Biography Award lecture was instituted. It is associated with the award, and was also sponsored by Cains and Crouch. It is given annually, but takes place during the same week as the announcement of the winner.^[1]

• 2018:Unauthorised, by Tom D C Roberts^[25]
• 2017:A tale finds its teller: writing the biography of Thea Astley, by Karen Lamb^[26]
• 2016:For better or worse: The relationship between biographer and subject, by Philip Butterss^[27]
• 2015:Biography and me: notes on the wonders of others (and some on self), byKim Williams AM^[28]
• 2014:Based on a true story, byLinda Jaivin^[29]
• 2013:A different perspective, a shared story, byJohn Elder Robison^[30]
• 2012:Looking for Eliza byEvelyn Juers^[31]
• 2011:Recollections of a Bleeding Heart: A Portrait of Paul Keating PM, byDon Watson
• 2010:Biography: The Art of the Impossible, byHilary McPhee AO
• 2009:‘Truth’ as applied to biography and autobiography, byRaimond Gaita
• 2008:Biography, Autobiography and Memoir: Presidential Bests and Worsts, byBob Carr^[32]
• 2007:Biography: The Impossible Art, byInga Clendinnen^[33]
• 2006:Materials for Life: The Enduring Value of Biography, byRobyn Archer
• 2005:Personal Drama: David Williamson on Self-depiction, byDavid Williamson
• 2004:The Observed of all Observers: Biography in Poetry, byPeter Porter (poet)
• 2003:Goethe's Two Left Feet: Reflections on the Hazards and Liberties of Biography, byPeter Rose (writer)

• Bennie, Angela (2005) "Award draws people with a tale to tell" inThe Sydney Morning Herald, 23 February 2005
• Bennie, Angela (2002) "They're six of the best" inThe Sydney Morning Herald, 1 March 2002
• "Inga Clendinnen on the impossibility of biography" (lecture), on ABC Radio NationalThe Book Show, 2007-11-09 Accessed: 2007-11-09
• Knox, Malcolm (2003) 'Dual winners in Biography Prize's latest chapter' inThe Sydney Morning Herald, 14 March 2003
• State Library of New South Wales, National Biography Award Home Page