‘Limberlost’ wins 2024 Dick and Joan Green Family Award for Tasmanian History

Robbie Arnott has won the 2024 Dick and Joan Green Family Award for Tasmanian History, worth $25,000, for his novel Limberlost (Text).

Limberlost is based on the life of Arnott’s grandfather and tells the story of teenager Ned on his family’s orchard during World War II. ‘Based on a true story from his own family, and set on the banks of the Tamar, [Limberlost] interweaves stories of love, of war and loss, and of Tasmania’s apple history,’ said judging panel member Rachel Edwards, who judged the award alongside Kate Darian-Smith and Emmett Stinson.

Edwards said choosing a winner across genres had been a challenge, but that Limberlost was a deserving winner. ‘Tasmanian history writing is vital to an understanding of both our past and present, and this state is fortunate to have the audience to read these books, as well as exceptional writers,’ said Edwards.

The biennial award, established in 2016, promotes books on Tasmanian history and cultural heritage. Established to commemorate the contributions of Dick and Joan Green (who were instrumental in the establishment of the National Trust in the 1960s), the award is a joint initiative of the Green family and the University of Tasmania.

Arnott’s novel was chosen as the 2024 winner from a shortlist of four announced in June.

Previous winners of the award are Rebe Taylor (Into the Heart of Tasmania: A search for human antiquity, MUP, in 2018), Tim Bonyhady and Greg Lehman (The National Picture: The art of Tasmania’s Black War, National Gallery of Australia, in 2020), and Alison Alexander (The Waking Dream of Art: Patricia Giles, painter, Pillinger Press, in 2022).

More information about the award is available on the University of Tasmania website.

Category: Awards Local news