Bernice Barry, Meg Caddy and Wayne Marshall Win 2026 ARA Historical Novel Prize
Fremantle Press published Bernice Barry's The Names of a Hare, which secured the $100,000 Adult category award at the 2026 ARA Historical Novel Prize, revealed in Sydney on 15 October. The narrative, set in 1628 Cornwall, centers on a woman who employs herbal healing to evade witchcraft charges. Judges commended its lyrical writing. Meg Caddy was awarded the $30,000 Children and Young Adult prize for her book A Flash in the Dust, released by University of Queensland Press, taking place in Fremantle in 1899. Wayne Marshall earned $5,000 as the Readers' Choice winner for Henry Goes Bush, a surreal reinterpretation of Henry Lawson's travels. Four runners-up also received $5,000 each, contributing to a total prize pool of $155,000. In 2025, Robbie Arnott won the Adult prize for Dusk.
Key facts
- The 2026 ARA Historical Novel Prize winners were announced in Sydney on 15 October
- Bernice Barry won the $100,000 Adult category for The Names of a Hare, published by Fremantle Press
- Meg Caddy won the $30,000 Children and Young Adult category for A Flash in the Dust, published by University of Queensland Press
- Wayne Marshall received $5,000 as Readers' Choice winner for Henry Goes Bush, published by Picador Australia
- The prize pool totals $155,000 and winners were chosen from a longlist of 15 novels
- The Adult judging panel was chaired by Linda Funnell with David Whish-Wilson, Renée Otmar, Robyn Cadwallader and Theresa Smith
- The Children and Young Adult panel was chaired by Sophie Masson with Bec Kavanagh and Stacy Gregg
- Four runners-up each received $5,000: Lauren Keenan, Fiona Kelly McGregor, Jackie French and Clare Hallifax
- The prize is presented annually by the Historical Novel Society Australasia
- In 2025 the Adult prize went to Robbie Arnott for Dusk and the Children and Young Adult prize to Tasma Walton for I Am Nannertgarrook
Entities
Artists
- Bernice Barry
- Meg Caddy
- Wayne Marshall
- Linda Funnell
- David Whish-Wilson
- Renée Otmar
- Robyn Cadwallader
- Theresa Smith
- Sophie Masson
- Bec Kavanagh
- Stacy Gregg
- Elisabeth Storrs
- Lauren Keenan
- Fiona Kelly McGregor
- Jackie French
- Clare Hallifax
- Robbie Arnott
- Tasma Walton
- Emily Maguire
- Henry Lawson
- Banjo Paterson
- Peter Carey
- Alannah Sue
Institutions
- ARA Historical Novel Prize
- Historical Novel Society Australasia
- Fremantle Press
- University of Queensland Press
- Picador Australia
- Peter Carey Short Story Award
- ArtsHub
- ScreenHub
- The Conversation
- Creative Hubs Group
- Time Out Sydney
Locations
- Sydney
- Australia
- Cornwall
- England
- United Kingdom
- Fremantle
- Western Australia
- Bourke
- Victoria
- Melbourne