The Newcastle Poetry Prize is one of Australia’s oldest and most important literary competitions and boasts a distinguished list of past winners and judges. 

The association with Newcastle is no accident. The Hunter Region has a long history of fostering poetry and an active community of local poets who punch above their weight nationally in awards, publication and events. In the words of the late Novocastrian poet, Bill Iden, “Newcastle’s environment makes its poets”.

The Newcastle Poetry Prize is a significant cultural achievement and is a testament to the commitment of its sponsors to celebrating artistic excellence in Australia.

“The Newcastle Poetry Prize has brought many fine Australian poets to national attention… It not only gives much needed financial reward to the winning poet but increases their media profile and likelihood of achieving further publication.”

Mike Ladd, Poetica, ABC Radio National