Mulga Bill Writing Award

Goldfields Libraries and Eaglehawk Festivals Inc. are calling for entries from writers all over Australia for the annual Mulga Bill Writing Award, a celebration of creativity at the Eaglehawk Dahlia & Arts Festival.

Poets and writers are invited to showcase their talents in the 2026 Mulga Bill Writing Award. Whether you’re an experienced storyteller or an aspiring writer, this is your chance to shine!

Theme: Harvest

Categories and prizes

Short Story

Up to 2000 words.

  • First Prize: $500
  • Second Prize: $150

Poetry

Up to 25 lines.

  • First Prize: $200
  • Second Prize: $50

Cost

Entries: $5 per submission.

Payment options:

  • EFT (bank transfer)
    Eaglehawk Festivals Inc.
    BSB 633 000
    Account # 131 394 157
    Please use reference “MBWA your name” (eg. MBWA Jane Smith).
  • Cheque
    Made payable to Eaglehawk Festivals Inc.
  • Cash

Key Dates

  • Entries open: Monday 29 December 2025
  • Entries close: Midnight Monday 2 March 2026
  • Winners announced: Friday 20 March 2026 (at the Dahlia & Arts Festival opening)

How to enter

Online

  1. Complete the online entry form.
  2. Email your submission to mulgabill@ncgrl.vic.gov.au

On paper

  1. Download, print and complete the entry form.
  2. Mail it, along with a hard copy of your entry, to:
    Eaglehawk Library
    1 Sailors Gully Road
    Eaglehawk
    Victoria 3556

Terms and Conditions

  • All entries must be orginal, unpublished and not have won any previous awards.
  • Entries must be typed double spaced using the typeface Times New Roman 12pt.
  • If posting, please print on single-sided A4 paper and send only copies.  All entries will be shredded after judging.
  • Name to be on entry form only.  Please do not include your name on your short story or poem.
  • Copyright remains the property of the writer.
  • No limit on the number of entries.  The entry fee is $5 per entry; each additional entry costs an additional $5.
  • Winners will be notified by phone and announced at the opening of the Dahlia and Arts Festival on Friday 20 March, 2026.
  • Winning entries will be published on the Goldfields Libraries website.
  • Entry deadline: Midnight 2 March 2026.  Entries received after the deadline will not be considered.

About the Judges

Amanda Collins, Poetry Prize Judge
Amanda Collins is a poet, songwriter and poetry teacher, and a fierce advocate for original poetry in Central Victoria. She teaches across schools and libraries with partner poet, Dave Munro, and has hosted Open Mics and Spoken Words since pre-pandemic times.

Cecile Shanahan, Short Story Prize Judge
Cecile Shanahan is an experienced editor, writing awards judge and respected literary conversations moderator. Cecile has worked as a judge for the Mulga Bill Awards, Davitt Awards, Aurealis Awards and the RPCV Rural and Regional Journalism and Photography Awards. She was involved with organising Bendigo Writers Festival for a decade, including three years as a curator. Cecile is also a past board director of the CBCA and currently sits on the IPEd Editors Victoria committee. 

Read past entries

City of greater Bendigo