The Patrick White Award is an annual literary prize established by Patrick White who used his Nobel Prize in Literature award to establish a trust for this prize.

The award is given to a writer who has been highly creative over a long period but has not necessarily received adequate recognition. Such writers are automatically eligible without the necessity for submissions. It offers a $20,000 cash prize to a full length unproduced play by an Australian playwright over 19 years of age.

Previous winners

• 2004 - Ningali Lawford and David Milroy
• 2003 - Janette Turner Hospital
• 2002 - TAG Hungerford
• 2001 - Jackie Smith and Toby Schmitz
• 2000 - ?
• 1999 - Gerald Murnane
• 1998 - ?
• 1997 – Vivian Smith
• 1996 – Elizabeth Harrower
• 1995 – Elizabeth Riddell
• 1994 – Dimitris Tsaloumas
• 1993 – Amy Witting
• 1992 – Peter Cowan
• 1991 – David Martin
• 1990 – Robert Gray
• 1989 – Thea Astley
• 1988 – Roland Robinson
• 1987 – William Hart-Smith
• 1986 – John Morrison
• 1985 – Judah Waten
• 1984 – Rosemary Dobson
• 1983 – Marjorie Barnard
• 1982 – Bruce Beaver
• 1981 – Dal Stivens
• 1980 – Bruce Dawe
• 1979 – Randolph Stow
• 1978 – Gwen Harwood
• 1977 – Sumner Locke Elliott
• 1976 – John Blight
• 1975 – David Campbell
• 1974 – Christina Stead