The Dorothea Mackellar Memorial was erected in 1983.

As is indicates on the plaque, the Memorial was erected by 'the people of Australia, the children of New South Wales and the local community'.

In 1984 the Memorial Trust established the perpetual phase of the project. The Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Poetry Awards consisted of the following prizes:

• An inscribed Dennis Adams statuette of the memorial

• $250 cash

• Free return travel and two nights’ accommodation, to enable winners of the Primary and Secondary Sections to receive the Awards in Gunnedah on Australia Day.

The inaugural NSW Schools Poetry Competition was a great success with over 80 schools participating.

The 300 poems written on the topic 'My Country' were judged by Rosemary Dobson, one of our leading contemporary poets who has since received the Order of Australia for her contribution to Literature, and Joan Phipson, award-winning author and member of the Literature Board of the Australia Council.

All entries were returned to the schools, together with a report containing the results and winning poems.

All participants received a signed 'Certificate of Appreciation' for their contribution.