Clare Wright’s Näku Dhäruk The Bark Petitions has won Book of the Year and the Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction at the 2026 NSW Literary Awards, according to the State Library of NSW and ABC News.
Clare Wright’s Näku Dhäruk The Bark Petitions has won the top prize at the 2026 NSW Literary Awards, taking out Book of the Year as well as the Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction.
The State Library of New South Wales announced the winners on May 18, 2026, at the awards ceremony in Sydney. ABC News reported that Wright’s book was the standout winner and that the two prizes lifted her total winnings to $50,000.
Näku Dhäruk The Bark Petitions had already been named on the shortlist for the Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction ahead of the ceremony. Under the awards rules, Book of the Year is selected from among the category winners.
The result gives Wright a major recognition for her history book, which ABC described as a powerful work. The awards are among the most prominent literary prizes in New South Wales, and the Book of the Year title is the event’s highest honour.
No further winners’ announcement details were immediately available beyond the official award pages and ABC’s report.
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