The National Book Council Banjo Awards were presented by the National Book Council of Australia from 1974 to 1997 for works of fiction and non-fiction.
The name commemorates the bush poet Andrew Barton Banjo Paterson.
[3] Many notable Australian writers have been recipients for this award, including Peter Carey, Tim Winton, Alan Gould, Liam Davison, Sally Morrison, and Roger McDonald.
In 1978 Helen Garner was the first woman to win the award for her novel Monkey Grip.
[4] The current Banjo Paterson Writing Award, established in 1991, is separate from the above awards, although similarly aims to commemorate the work of Banjo Paterson.