The Victorian Government is celebrating the life and legacy of Victorian author John Marsden with a Victorian Premier’s Literary Award to be named in his honour in 2026.
The John Marsden Prize for Writing for Young Adults will be awarded next year, honouring the late, great literary legend who passed away last December.
John Marsden started his career as a teacher before his first book, So Much to Tell You, was published in 1987 – it became an international bestseller and won multiple awards including taking out a Victorian Premier’s Literary Award in 1988.
Marsden went on to create one of the most successful ever Australian book series for young adults, the seven-book Tomorrow series. Beginning with Tomorrow, When the War Began in 1993, the series won several awards in Australia and garnered international acclaim before spurring a second wildly successful book series The Ellie Chronicles.
Over the course of his writing career, Marsden published over 40 books. He was also a committed educator, teaching at schools in NSW and Victoria. In 2006, he established the alternative Candlebark School in the Macedon Ranges and ten years later he opened an arts-focused secondary school in the region, Alice Miller School.
Marsden was driven to inspire young people to write and visited thousands of schools, delivering talks and workshops. He was also the patron of youth literary organisation Express Media.
To be awarded as part of the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards in 2026, the John Marsden Prize for Writing for Young Adults will be worth $25,000. The winner will also go in the running for the Victorian Prize for Literature, which includes a further $100,000 in prize money.
CEO of The Wheeler Centre Erin Vincent, who worked with Marsden at the ABC, said: "John Marsden’s impact on young adult literature is immeasurable, inspiring creativity and igniting a love of reading among young audiences around the world.”
“Only someone with such deep respect for young people could create such beloved characters that will live on in our national memory. The Wheeler Centre is thrilled to honour John Marsden as part of the 2026 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, celebrating the very best of Australian writers."
Welcoming the naming of the award, Marsden’s family said: “John was a pioneer in creating literature that was accessible and meaningful to young adults. It was his lifelong passion, and we look forward with excitement to seeing this prize awarded, thereby continuing John's great legacy.”
For more on the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, including the 2025 winners, visit wheelercentre.com