The Walkleys were established in 1956, with five categories, by Ampol Petroleum founder Sir William Gaston Walkley. William Walkley appreciated the media's support for his oil exploration efforts. He envisaged awards that recognised emerging talent in the Australian media. Since then, winning stories have chronicled Australia's history, people and events.

Upon his death, the awards were bequeathed to the-then Australian Journalists' Association (now the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance). The Association and, from 1990, the Alliance remained proud custodian of the awards for many years. In 2000, the Alliance voted to formally establish the awards as the Walkley Foundation for Journalism.

The Walkley Foundation's aims and objectives are to organise, administer and promote the Walkley Awards as well as continuing to advance the interests of professional and ethical journalism in Australia.

Today, the Walkleys has grown to more than 30 award categories with an estimated 1000 entries pouring in each year as journalists around the country aspire for the pinnacle of Australian journalistic achievement.

Jan Mayman, Janey Hawley, Monica Attard, Mary Delahunty, Jill Singer, Jennie Brockie, Sue Spencer, Catherine Martin, Mary-Louise O'Callaghan, Pamela Williams, Deborah Richards, Anne Connolly, Anne Davie and Kate McClymont have all won Gold Awards.

Events

1956 -

Inaugural Walkley Awards

Sources used to compile this entry: 'History', Website of the Walkley Awards, http://www.walkleys.com/the-awards/winners/history.html, [accessed 2008-05-20].