Historical Novel Society Australasia
Where history meets imagination
2026 ARA Historical Novel Prize
Thanks to our Foundation Partner, the ARA Group, the prize awards $100,000 to the Adult category winner, with an additional $5,000 awarded to each of the remaining two shortlisted authors. In the CYA category, the winner receives $30,000, while the two short listers receive $5,000 each. The Readers’ Choice Award winner receives $5,000.
See which novels won the 2026 Prize >
The 2027 ARA Historical Novel Prize will open in March 2027.
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2026 E.J. CORBETT MENTORSHIP CONTEST OPEN
In honour of historical novelist, Elizabeth Jane Corbett, the HNSA is offering the chance for a previously unpublished author from Australia or New Zealand to receive a mentorship with Swinburne University tutor, Dr Wendy J Dunn, to develop an historical fiction manuscript for young adults.
The contest is now open for submissions.
History Unbound Festival Wrap Up - a feast of historical fiction!
On 1st to 2nd November 2025 at the historic Parramatta Town Hall, the Historical Novel Society Australasia welcomed the historical fiction community to enjoy our newly rebranded History Unbound Festival. There we unloosened the bindings, blew away the cobwebs, and unlocked the secrets of bygone eras with a dynamic program celebrating historical fiction and storytelling in all its forms. Read our wrap-up of the festival here.
Enjoy our Imagining the Past Podcast
The Imagining the Past podcast series features authors appearing at our biennial festivals or have been recognised in our $150,000 ARA Historical Novel Prize.
Our HNSA host, Greg Johnston, discusses researching, writing and publishing historical fiction with acclaimed writers of the genre in its many forms from crime to fantasy to literary fiction, set in eras stretching from ancient times to the Swinging Sixties, and for readers of all ages.
Festivals + Events
The HNSA promotes the writing, reading and publication of historical fiction, especially in Australia and New Zealand, through its biennial conferences held since 2015. Our events showcase the best literary talent and enable readers, writers and publishing professionals to celebrate the genre.
To mark our 10th anniversary in 2025, HNSA held the History Unbound Festival with a new name and new look at the Parramatta Town Hall.
Our next History Unbound Festival will be held in 2027. Subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on social media to stay updated.
News + Updates
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At the Historical Novel Society Australasia, we celebrate and promote historical fiction, bringing stories of the past to life for today's readers. Your support enables us to host events, provide resources for writers, and engage the community in appreciating this rich literary genre.
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We're thrilled to be giving away 5 copies of All Her Beautiful Deaths by A Rushby.
More than a century apart the lives of two artists intersect through a series of mysterious, eerily beautiful photographs of the dead.