Author Molly Schmidt has won the 2022 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award for her manuscript Salt River Road.

The City of Fremantle Hungerford Award is a biennial prize that is awarded to an emerging West Australian writer for their first unpublished work of fiction or narrative non-fiction.

Now in its 32nd year, the winner was selected from 90 manuscripts of a variety of genres and forms. Schmidt was awarded a cash prize of $15 000 and a publishing contract with Fremantle Press.

Fremantle Press publisher and Hungerford judge Georgia Richter said: ‘Salt River Road is about the five Tetley kids, who are falling apart in aftermath of the death of their beloved mother. With the family farm in ruins and their father unable to transcend his grief, Rose Tetley is discovered running away from home by Noongar Elders Patsy and Herbert who have their own history with Rose’s parents. This novel focuses on the fabric of small-town life, and the complexity of family and community relationships.’

Additionally, Fremantle Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge said: ‘Through the Hungerford Award, the City of Fremantle is excited to play our role in growing the arts community throughout the state. To this end, I want to congratulate the 90 writers who entered the competition this year and who understand that getting words on the page and meeting tangible goals like competition deadlines is meaningful work in the pursuit of a dream.’

The novel, Skimming Stones by Maria Papas was the 2020 winner.