The National Tidy Towns Sustainability Awards, set to take place in Launceston this weekend, have evolved from a West Australian tourism initiative in the 1960s into one of Australia's longest-running community programs. With over 4,000 volunteers contributing to this year's entries, the awards celebrate the unsung heroes of small communities across the country.
A Tradition of Civic Pride
Driving down a freeway or gravel track, a weathered sign reading "tidy town winner" offers reassurance of a litter-free community and evokes nostalgia. The awards began as an anti-litter tourism effort but have since expanded to include categories such as heritage, culture, and sustainability.
State winners competing for the national title range from Ikuntji in the Northern Territory (population 150) to the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria (over 170,000 residents). In Williams, Western Australia, two elderly women, Judy and Robin, have spent thousands of hours preserving disintegrating roads board records dating back to the late 1800s, cleaning them from damage by water, vermin, and fire.
Community Heroes Honoured
Hazel Harris, community resource manager in Williams, says the awards honour "all the unsung heroes within small communities." After winning the state title, the whole community celebrated at a sundowner. The winning sign now sits by a beloved gumtree at the town's entrance.
Launceston, the 2025 national winner, will host the 2026 event. Michael Attard, the council's sustainability team leader, says winning gave the community "a great sense of pride," with praise for marine cleanups, education programs, and a volunteer-led Repair Cafe that diverted 2,000 kilos of landfill.
Evolution of the Awards
Tidy Towns originated in Ireland in the 1950s and was launched in Western Australia in 1968. Initially, local councils competed on measures like absence of litter, "unsightly objects," colour harmony, and fence standards. In 1969, Bunbury won the inaugural title. Since 1990, state and territory winners have competed for the national prize under the Keep Australia Beautiful association.
Val Southam, CEO of Keep Australia Beautiful NSW, says running the awards is challenging due to lack of government funding and tighter sponsor budgets. "It just survives by the hard work of the volunteers," she says. Southam recalls Gascoyne Junction, a community of 70 people, winning the national title two years ago, with celebrations including an army band and stargazing.
Recognition Beyond Local Borders
The ability for far-flung communities to showcase their pride makes the effort worthwhile. "The fact volunteers are able to get recognition means a lot," Southam says. "That's what we want to do – be able to reward them. Otherwise people lose heart."
