Emily Bitto wins 2015 Stella Prize for her novel The Strays

AUTHOR Emily Bitto has been awarded the $50,000 Stella Prize for women’s writing for her debut novel, The Strays.

Embargoed until 8pm. Emily Bitto, winner of $50,000 Stella Prize for womenÕs writing for her first novel, The Strays, inspired by the Heide artists of the 1950s. Picture: Tony Gough

MELBOURNE author Emily Bitto has won the prestigious Stella Prize for women’s writing for her debut novel The Strays.

Bitto, who was awarded the $50,000 cheque at a ceremony tonight, called the award “an astounding, life-changing honour”.

The former University of Melbourne student said she would donate a portion of her prize money to the Wilderness Society.

Congrats to #stella2015 winner @emilybitto! 'Women have historically been excluded from the category of artist.' pic.twitter.com/YbmFX5ElvM

— Angela Meyer (@LiteraryMinded) April 21, 2015

Loosely based on the real-life 1930s artists’ colony at Heide in Melbourne, the novel tells the story of childhood friends Lily and Eva, one born to working-class parents, the other to a modernist painter and his wealthy wife.

Bitto works full-time in Heartattack and Vine, the wine bar she opened with her partner in Carlton in late 2014.

Also on the Stella shortlist were Joan London, Christine Kenneally, Sofie Laguna, Maxine Beneba Clarke and Ellen Van Neerven, who each receive cheques for $2,000