Category: Announcements

Chris Palazzolo, author of Personal Logistics, has won the 2026 Mattie Furphy Short Story Competition for his piece, ‘The Water Getting Red’. Judge Brooke Dunnell described Chris’s work as an experimental story that used vivid and complex detail to describe the experiences of a man returning to a pivotal moment of childhood on the last […]

Bernice Barry received an extra special birthday gift this year when she learned her novel The Names of a Hare was longlisted for the 2026 Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award. Now in its 25th year, this national literary prize has become an established and respected part of the literary landscape, with books scrutinised […]

Ninni Yabini by Professor Cheryl Kickett-Tucker and Tyrown Waigana has been selected for the IBBY-UNESCO Collection of Remarkable Books for Young Readers in Indigenous and Endangered Languages. Chosen by an international committee of influential experts on children’s books after a global call for submissions, the list was unveiled at the 40th IBBY World Congress in […]

Eight books representing nine writers have been shortlisted for the Western Australian Premier’s Book Award. They are in the running to win a $15,000 prize from a total pool of $120,000. Administered by the State Library of Western Australia, the Premier’s Book Awards support and promote authors, illustrators and publishers, while encouraging readers to engage […]

The Shameful Isles by David Price is in the running for the Margaret Medcalf Award. This is the second time the author has been shortlisted for the prize, which recognises excellence in research – particularly as it pertains to the use of materials housed in the State Records Office of Western Australia.  The Shameful Isles reveals […]

Fremantle Press’s first permanent home, the SEC Substation at 10 Parry Street, is set to crackle and hum with the sound of new podcasts and new audiobooks, thanks to the generosity of Stott Hoare, in partnership with Microsoft. A dedicated podcast room with microphones, audio recording equipment, a big screen and a dedicated laptop were […]

Tim Winton won the first Environment Award for Children’s Literature back in 1994. Now, he and illustrator Cindy Lane are in the running for another award for Ningaloo: Australia’s Wild Wonder. CEO and publisher of the book, Alex Allan, said she was heartened by the recognition. Alex said, ‘This book acknowledges the profound part young […]

Fremantle Press is pleased to announce the appointment of Louise Jones as Chair of Board and Sue Wilson as Deputy Chair. Louise replaces Clair Medhurst, who stepped down from the Board at the 2026 AGM. Longtime board members David Ansell and John Hoddinott have also stepped down. Louise Jones has been on the board for […]

Palyku creator Professor Helen Milroy has two books on the ASLA DANZ (Diversity in Austrlia and Aotearoa New Zealand) Children’s Book Award shortlist: her picture book The Boab Tree and her chapter book Sunny & Shadow.   Children’s publisher Cate Sutherland said the books provided a First Nations perspective on the special connection to the place we call home and what happens when that gets severed. She said, ‘Both of Helen’s books are […]

Taking a moment to reminisce on Clair Medhurst’s history with Fremantle Press, current Chair of the Board Louise Jones shares some of her fondest memories of their time together. If I were to properly catalogue Clair’s contributions to Fremantle Press, and particularly her stewardship of the Board as Chair, over the past eight years this […]

Fremantle Press is pleased to announce Mabel Gibson will join our team, thanks to an Open Book Australian Publishing Internship. Mabel is one of four aspiring professionals who will work with publishing hosts from around Australia in an initiative that aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to our industry. Administered by the Australian Publishing Association […]

The Big Day of Books is back! Join us on Saturday 20 June for a lively day of conversations, fresh ideas and unforgettable stories as some of Australia’s most exciting writers come together for a festival made just for readers. From celebrated voices to emerging talent, this year’s program explores themes of love, identity, history, […]

Fremantle Press farewelled patron Barry McGuire and welcomed two new patrons at its 50-year anniversary celebration on Friday 24 April. Helen Milroy is the Patron of Readers while Annie Fogarty takes on the role of Patron of Writers. Fremantle Press Chair Clair Medhurst said she had enjoyed working with Barry since 2022. Clair said, ‘Barry […]

Fremantle Press is celebrating 50 years of independent publishing with a brand-new home and a place on the Australian Book Industry Awards shortlist. The ABIA Small Publisher of the Year Award recognises publishers whose program demonstrates excellence, thereby contributing to the overall success of the industry. Fremantle Press CEO Alex Allan said the shortlisting was […]

Ningaloo: Australia’s Wild Wonder by Tim Winton with Cindy Lane has been shortlisted for the Eve Pownell Award in this year’s Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards.  Fremantle Press CEO Alex Allan commissioned Ningaloo from four-time winner of the Miles Franklin Award and bestselling author, Tim Winton, who is well known for his environmental activism in the […]

Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes is scheduled to appear at national and international writers festivals this year thanks to a new travel fellowship supported by the Barton Family Foundation. CEO of Fremantle Press Alex Allan said the fellowship would give festival organisers the freedom to take risks on unknown debut Western Australian authors. She said, ‘Our festivals […]

Thank you for your support and engagement during this very exciting and extremely busy time. Our new address is: 1/10 Parry Street Fremantle. Our phone number is: 08 9430 6331. We no longer have a Post Office Box – all deliveries will now come to our main office address. Please join us at our Open […]

Fremantle Press is joining forces with UWA Publishing to host a 2026 Open Book Intern. The Open Book: Australian Publishing Internship is a paid internship designed to foster cultural diversity in Australian book publishing. It aims to provide a well-rounded introduction to the industry and create practical and sustainable pathways towards long-term careers for aspiring […]

Bigfoot vs Yeti by James Foley, Ningaloo: Australia’s Wild Wonder by Tim Winton with Cindy Lane and Say Goodnight by Renae Hayward and Rebecca Mills have been named Notable books by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. The list acts as the longlist for the CBCA Book of the Year Awards. Children’s publisher Cate Sutherland […]

Prema Arasu, author of new poetry collection Vampire Squid, is the inaugural recipient of a new travel fund aimed at giving debut Western Australian writers the opportunity to promote their work outside the state. The sponsorship, funded by the Forrest Research Foundation, supports the work of one new or emerging Western Australian writer each year, […]

The Hungerford Award is celebrating 35 years of unearthing Western Australian stories and championing new literary voices. Sponsors Fremantle Press, City of Fremantle and Centre for Stories are looking for the next great storyteller seeking a big break – with $15,000 cash, a publishing contract, and a writing fellowship up for grabs. The biennial Hungerford […]

Fremantle Press is set to celebrate in its new building 50 years of sharing important Western Australian stories. The organisation is moving ahead with confidence after securing a Lotterywest grant worth $722,226 for the fit-out of the historic SEC Substation at 10 Parry Street, Fremantle. This grant takes the Press to within half a million dollars of its total fundraising goal.  Fremantle Press Chair Clair Medhurst said she was elated […]

Bigfoot vs Yeti by James Foley has been shortlisted for the 2025 Children’s Peace Literature Award. This biennial prize is awarded to Australian authors for children’s books that encourage peaceful resolution of conflict or promote peace at the global, local or interpersonal level. Administered by Psychologists for Peace (SA), over 100 books were judged by […]

Fremantle Press is pleased to announce that Dr Libby Jackson-Barrett and Ben Paganoni have joined our board, bringing the total number of members to nine. This is a strategic decision designed to consolidate and diversify the already strong leadership team in readiness for the Press’s 50th anniversary.  Chair Clair Medhurst said the pair have joined […]