The Australian Bush Laureate Awards were instigated in 1995 to recognise excellence in published and recorded Australian bush poetry.

Winners to date have included Jim Brown, Frank Daniel, Kelly Dixon, Slim Dusty, Jack Drake, Gary Fogarty, Marco Gliori, Murray Hartin, Jim Haynes, Carol Heuchan, John Kane, Mark Kleinschmidt, Keith "Cobber" Lethbridge, Bob Magor, Keith McHenry, Bob Magor, Bob Miller, The Naked Poets, Dobe Newton, Carmel Randle, Ray Rose, Alli Ryan, Bill Scott, Bruce Simpson, Noel Stallard, R M Williams and Roderick Williams.

The 2012 event will be staged Tuesday, January 24 at the famous Tamworth Town Hall.