Williams, a small town in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt region, has been named the national winner of the 2026 Keep Australia Beautiful Australian Tidy Towns Awards.
Home to just over 1,000 people, Williams took out the overall national title as well as three category awards: Behaviour Change and Engagement, Heritage and Culture, and Young Legends.
The 2026 Australian Tidy Towns Awards were held in Launceston, Tasmania, from 15 to 17 May, bringing together six finalist communities from across Australia.
Williams represented Western Australia in the national awards, alongside Ikuntji, Northern Territory; Orange, New South Wales; Mornington Peninsula, Victoria; Huon Valley, Tasmania; and Cloncurry, Queensland.
Val Southam, CEO of Keep Australia Beautiful, said Williams’ win reflected the strength of the whole community.
“Williams is a powerful example of what happens when a community decides, together, to take care of its place,” Ms Southam said.
“That decision shows up everywhere, from children planting along the river, to volunteers preserving local history, to young people helping older residents at community events.”
“This is a huge achievement for Williams, and for Western Australia. It shows that small towns can lead the country when it comes to environmental action, community pride and practical local leadership.”
At the heart of Williams’ win is the Williams Community Resource Centre, which runs the Williams Wildlife Warriors program free to local families.
The program gives children from pre-primary to Year 6 the chance to explore the Williams River and local reserves, learning about flora, fauna, soils and waterways while taking part in revegetation, litter removal and weed control.
Williams also won the Heritage and Culture category for the Williams Historical Records Project, led by two volunteers who have contributed more than 2,000 hours cleaning, repairing and preserving local records damaged by fire, water and rodents.
The town’s Little Helpers program rounded out its national wins, taking home the Young Legends category for encouraging children as young as seven to give their time to community events, school holiday activities and support for older residents.
The win comes just six months after Williams Primary School narrowly missed the national title in Keep Australia Beautiful’s Paint Australia Beautiful awards.
Ms Southam said Williams’ success was a reminder that regional communities are often leading some of Australia’s most practical sustainability work.
“These awards aren’t about ticking boxes. They spotlight the real, often quiet work that keeps communities moving forward,” Ms Southam said.
“Williams has shown what is possible when resilience, purpose and local leadership come together for a better future.”
Learn more: https://kab.org.au/tidy-towns/
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About Tidy Towns
The Keep Australia Beautiful Tidy Towns Awards celebrate outstanding sustainability efforts in rural and regional Australia. The program recognises leadership in waste reduction, community engagement, youth participation and environmental innovation. The 2026 national ceremony was hosted in Launceston, Tasmania.
The 2026 Australian Tidy Towns Awards event is supported by the Tasmanian Waste and Resource Recovery Board, which is funded by the Tasmanian Government.
Media Contact:
Jasmin Hyde, Keep Australia Beautiful
+61466 836 263
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