Ernest Scott Prize

Eligibility

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

• have published original research on the history of Australia/New Zealand (edited or republished works are not eligible); and,
• live in Australia or New Zealand or the respective external territories.

Selection criteria

Works must:

• be based upon original research, which is, in the opinion of the judges, the most distinguished contribution to the history of Australia or New Zealand or to the history of colonisation in these countries;
• have been published during the two calendar years immediately prior to the first day of January of the year in which it is to be awarded; and,
• be submitted by publishers. Authors are advised to request their publishers to submit their books on their behalf if they wish to apply.

Publishers should:

• submit an online application form;
• mail a copy of the book to each of the two judges. The postal addresses will be supplied via email after the online entry form has been successfully submitted; and,
• attach a cover page to each book stating the publisher, publisher contact name, position, email address, contact phone number, book details, author, date published and ISBN number.

Books submitted will not be returned.

Publishers of shortlisted works will be contacted by the Faculty of Arts. The 2023 winner will be announced at the Kathleen Fitzpatrick Lecture.

Emily Scott

Emily Scott founded this prize to perpetuate the memory of her husband Emeritus Professor Sir Ernest Scott, KB.

Ernest Scott was Professor of History at the University for Melbourne for 23 years, from 1913-1936. The prize commemorates his interest in the development of Australian historical studies.

Born outside wedlock, raised by his grandparents and enjoying no higher education, he worked as a journalist for 20 years. As a young Fabian and Theosophist, he married the daughter of Annie Besant and migrated to Melbourne in 1892.

His books on Australian exploration history made Scott into a professional among amateurs and antiquarians. He inspired his students to do archival research and to ask critical questions of popular historical mythologies.

A generation of young Australians learned about the country's past from his notable Short History of Australia (1916).