Bordertown fills with SA Taylor Swift fans heading to Melbourne for Eras Tour

It’s an invasion of another kind, as thousands of Taylor fans pour over the border, taking a quick rest at one country town – and we were there.

There’s not a blank space in Bordertown, as hundreds of Taylor Swift fans invaded the stopover on their way to fulfil their wildest dreams.

As the superstar’s first Australian concert for her Eras Tour approaches on Friday night, the town of 3000 filled with Swifties taking a break as they rolled their getaway cars over the border, shaking off travel fatigue.

Two families travelling from Adelaide are the Patellas and the Papps – but only the mothers and daughters are getting into the MCG for the show.

Huge Taylor fans Rosanna and daughter Olivia Patella, and Emma and mother Frankie Papps, were aiming to stay in Ballarat overnight on Thursday after a fire changed their plans to sleep in the Grampians.

Emma and Olivia, both 14, are lifelong Swifties and got off school early the day the first lot of tickets went on sale – they had more than six devices open between the four of them trying to get tickets.

“We were hoping to get seven tickets so our husbands and the son could come too but unfortunately that didn’t happen so the boys will be waiting outside,” Rosanna said.

“Taylor Swift was the first album I ever owned,” said Olivia. “Me too,” added Frankie

The mums are massive Swifties as well and have been helping the daughters with their friendship bracelet making and have gone all out with their concert outfits.

Frankie is wearing pink for Lover and Olivia will don black for Reputation.

They’re most excited for the Midnight and Lover songs in the sets.

Taylor Swift fans Rosanna and Olivia Patella and Emma and Frankie Papps in Bordertown. They are driving from Adelaide to Melbourne. Picture: Jessica Dempster

Olivia's super cool Taylor's Version slippers. Picture: Jessica Dempster

The influx of visitors has had a big boost for the town, as travellers stop to buy lunch at Bordertown’s famous bakery – and despite baking up a storm in preparation, they still sold out midmorning.

The Advertiser spoke to staff behind the counter amid an already hectic pre-lunch rush, with one server saying virtually every customer was going to Taylor Swift.

“We knew it’d be coming so we had the bakers yesterday stay back and make a bunch of extra stuff but by 10:30 today we’d already sold out of a bunch of products.”

Bordertown bakery. Picture: Jessica Dempster

Taylor Swift fans, Ruby and Millie. Picture: Ben Clark

Among the travellers were Amanda, with her two daughters Ruby and Millie.

“It’s the girls first ever concert and they’re super excited to see the Taylor Swift in person,” Amanda said.

Taylor Swift fans Belle Taylor, Rachel Davey and Kim Weiland. Picture: Ben Clark

Rachel Davey, Bell Taylor and Kim Weiland, who were ready for their first Taylor Swift show but explained they were too “old” to dress up.

“No, we’re old, we’re in our jeans and a nice top and sensible footwear Era,” they laughed.

Sisters Nikki and Ebony Curnow and Jessie Wilson and cousin Amber Keenihan, all from Adelaide, all said they were “beyond pumped to see Taylor live”

The four are going to both the Friday and Saturday shows, with Jessie taking on the driving – all dressed in different Eras.

Meanwhile, Asha Petty said her husband waited for hours in 41-degree heat to get tickets for the group after they missed out during the first release – true love.

And Aeon Nguyen, 16, said she was going “all out” for the concert

“I’ve got a pair of sparkly cowboy boots, I’ve been wearing them around the house to break them in,” she said.

Taylor Swift fans Sean Brading, Cilla Pavljuk, Asher Petty and Laura Brading. Picture: Ben Clark

Taylor Swift fans Amber Keenihan, Jessie Wilson and Ebony Curnow and Nikki Curnow at Bordertown. Picture: Ben Clark

Aeon Nguyen, 16, and Jessica Brown, 31 Picture: Ben Clark

Taylor Swift fans Maddie and Sophie. Picture: Ben Clark

Taylor Swift fans Bella Reardon Poppy Reardon and Bethany Fleet. Picture: Ben Clark

Taylor Swift fans Bella and Poppy Reardon, and Bethany Fleet. Picture: Ben Clark

Also heading through Bordertown on Thursday were megafans Maddie and Sophie, the latter of which has been to every Taylor Swift tour since seeing Fearless when she was 11 – and who still has a shirt from that tour that she fits into, saying it was the one time she was glad her mum pulled the “you’ll grow into it card”.

Maddie said she’d seen Taylor twice before, attending both the Speak Now and Reputation tours.

Meanwhile, Michelle, Scott, Bella, Bethany and Poppy, all from Adelaide, were ready for their Eras experience.

It will be Bethany’s first concert – she’s a massive Swiftie, along with Bella.

Mum Michelle has taken Bella to Harry Styles and Poppy to Ed Sheeran.