In 1983 Williamson released his first solo live album, "Singing in the Suburbs" and another live album, "The Smell of Gum Leaves", in September 1984. It featured another comic track, "I'm Fair Dinkum". Williamson then launched his merchandise business, The Fair Dinkum Road Company, in Sydney. The album included his cover version of Spectrum's 1971 single, "I'll Be Gone", which he played using only guitar and harmonica. At the start of 1985 he founded an independent record label, Gumleaf Recordings. At the Country Music Awards of Australia in January that year, he won 'Song of the Year' for "Queen in the Sport of Kings". He then issued a new compilation, "Humble Beginnings", featuring tracks from his first three studio albums. He released another studio album that year, "Road Thru the Heart". At the Country Music Awards of Australia in January 1986, he won 'Album of the Year' for "Road Thru the Heart" and 'Male Vocalist of the Year' for "You and My Guitar". In July 1986, Williamson released another compilation, "All the Best!" which contained eighteen of his most-requested tracks both from studio and live works. As a bonus, Williamson collaborated with both of his daughters, Ami and Georgie, and with Australian folk group Bullamakanka on "Goodbye Blinky Bill" – highlighting the comic koala character of the same name. When issued as a single, the purchase price included an A$1.00 donation to the Koala Preservation Society in Port Macquarie. At the Country Music Awards of Australia in January 1986, he won 'Album of the Year' for "Road Thru the Heart" and 'Male Vocalist of the Year' for "You and My Guitar".