The Children's Book Council of Australia Awards was started by the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) in 1946 with one category.[1] The awards have grown and now there are five categories in the Book of the Year Awards and numerous other awards presented annually by the National Office and CBCA branches in each State and Territory.
The winner of the inaugural award received a flower, "a camellia".[2] In more recent times the awards have been funded through Government grants (1966–1988), and lately by individual and corporation donations and sponsorships. The CBCA decided in 1995 to establish an Award Foundation to secure the funding for these awards for the future.[2]