However, the AHWA was a far more ambitious effort, conceived by its founding committee as drawing together horror writers and fans nationwide in Australia.
The AHWA was officially launched during the Continuum 3 science fiction convention in Melbourne on 17 July 2005 by author Richard Harland.
The award was sponsored by Altair Australia Books in its first two years, through the donation of two statuettes created by dark fantasy artist Brom (supplied by The Franklin Mint).
Previous President Dr Marty Young returned to the AHWA as Executive Editor for Midnight Echo in Sept 2011 in time for the release of Issue 6.
Individual issues of Midnight Echo have been edited by In Sept 2010 all committee positions of the AHWA were declared vacant and new officeholders were elected.
Leigh Blackmore replaced Dr Marty Young as the organisation's second President and served in that role for the year 2010–2011.