The winners gathered at the Church Street Rotunda with city and Chamber officials for the reveal of the freshly painted Gold Rhino statue featuring the names of the Gold Rhino and Jean Emile Serisier Award winners.

Dubbo Chamber of Commerce president Matt Wright and Ted Snare, on behalf of the late Joe Snare, were given the honours to lift the covers off the Gold Rhino.

Special tribute was paid to Joe Snare, one of Dubbo's most respected businessmen and the winner of the inaugural Jean Emile Serisier Award, which recognises the outstanding contribution of local business people to the community.

Mr Wright said the Rhino Awards were regarded with high esteem in the business community.

"This special Rhino was a way of pushing the 20th celebrations into the public domain."

Mr Wright said he encouraged people in the community to pause and reflect on the past winners but to also recognise those who "served the community with little fuss".

"They are the heart and soul of the business community and are truly valuable to Dubbo," he said.

While reflecting on the past 20 years of success, Mr Wright said it was difficult to foresee what the next 20 years would bring.

"It will be interesting to see what types of businesses will be around," he said.

"So many people are doing so many great things in the business community."

"The Rhino awards continue to attract strong entries from the next generation of business people, who are following in the footsteps of their peers and building a strong city for the future," Mr Wright said.

Nominations for the 2015 Rhino Awards close on Friday, August 7.

The winners will be announced at a gala function at the Dubbo RSL Memorial Club on Friday, October 23.