Welcome to the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards
a unique national project, giving Australia’s youth a voice and an opportunity to strive for excellence in literature
The 2022 Competition is now closed!
Winners will be announced in early September 2022.

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Kurrumbede Success!
Former Mackellar family homestead is officially on the State Heritage Register!
“Kurrumbede” Open Day – Bus Registration and Driving Instructions HERE
PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR 2022 DETAILS. 2021 details: Whitehaven Coal will be running courtesy buses to and from Kurrumbede for the Inaugural Open Day on Saturday 12th of June. Hosted by the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society. Buses will commence running at 10am from the...
Kurrumbede considered for State Heritage Register
The Society needs your help. If you care about the future of Kurrumbede, please consider writing a submission! For many, Dorothea Mackellar’s ‘My Country’ poem sums up the Australian bush. Kurrumbede, the Mackellar family property near Gunnedah, north west NSW, is...
2021 CEREMONY LIVE!
Our 2021 ceremony is now live and available at the following links: Website: https://dorothea.com.au/Presentation-Ceremony Facebook: https://fb.watch/80YotoLc9E/ YouTube: https://youtu.be/pTPXKlZ8H6A Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/604671645 We hope you...
Brittany Completes 2021 Workshops!
Project Officer Visits Local Schools Our Project Officer Brittany has completed her annual rounds of poetry workshops around the local area. She said she loves visiting the schools and witnessing first-hand the ideas students conjure up. They usually write a group...
Dorothea Mackellar Silo Art Mural
Dorothea Immortalised One of the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society's biggest feats during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-21 was the installation of the giant Dorothea Mackellar mural in Barber St, Gunnedah. This objective became a possibility when Gunnedah Shire...
Kurrumbede Open Day
A roaring success! The dreary weather coludn't dull the vivid atmosphere of the Kurrumbede Open Day on June 12th. Visitors came from far and wide to visit the famous homestead, freqented by Dorothea Mackellar herself and owned by her brothers as a working station...
Kurrumbede Day Charging Ahead!
It may be dreary today in Gunnedah, but the Kurrumbede Open Day is still planned to go ahead this Saturday 12th June! The Committee has worked so hard to get this day up and running. It's going to be an awesome day. Don't forget you can drive yourself or book a bus...
2021 Competition Re-opens!
2020 Presentation Ceremony
PRESENTATION CEREMONY 2020 See the winners of the 2020 Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards announced here in our all new online presentation ceremony. Congratulations to the students who captivated the judges with their imagination and creativity! Thanks to our judges...