Big Red ‘splash’: Insane photos show muddy hell at outback desert festival

An outback deluge on the eve of famous Queensland desert festival the Big Red Bash has closed roads and forced organisers to make a major change as photos reveal a muddy mess.

Mud-covered cars line up at Big Red Bash after an outback deluge. Photo: Danica Clayton

An outback deluge on the eve of the famous Queensland desert festival Big Red Bash has caused widespread road closures and led organisers to make drastic changes to the event schedule.

More than 10 times the average July rainfall has smashed outback Queensland with a huge weather system dumping more than 100mm in some parts.

The normally dry desert town of Birdsville - near where Big Red Bash is held - has copped more than 15mm of rain in the past 24 hours.

Insane photos show the muddy hell at Big Red Bash. Photo: Danica Clayton

Thousands of campers flooding into the outback Queensland festival site have been forced to make other arrangements after entry to the sodden site was suspended on Monday.

Mud-covered cars line up at Big Red Bash after an outback deluge. Photo: Danica Clayton

And major roads across the outback to Birdsville have been closed due to flooding with the Birdsville Track from South Australia closed to all motorists, along with a swag across Queensland including the Inside Track Road, Cacoory Stony Crossing Road, Birdsville Developmental Road and Eyre Developmental Road (from Birdsville to the South Australian border).

Motorists are advised to find alternate routes.

There is 4WD access along Cordillo Access while Eyre Developmental Road from Kings Creek to Birdsville is open to light traffic and caravans.

The swag of road closures near Birdsville in outback Queensland. Photo: Qld Traffic

The road closures headed to Birdsville in outback South Australia. Photo: Supplied

Despite “extremely uncommon” rainfall at this time of year Big Red Bash founder Greg Donovan assured campers the event - due to start on Tuesday - will still go on.

“Entry to Bashville has been suspended until the site dries out,” he said.

“Depending on the weather, we hope to let people through this afternoon.

Vehicles are covered in mud after the journey to Birdsville. Photo: Danica Clayton

“Birdsville police are helping people find suitable places to stay while we have road blocks in place between Birdsville and Bashville.”

Once the weather system passes through later today the skies will be clear when festivities officially begin on Tuesday afternoon.

The site was unable to cope with the outback deluge. Photo: Danica Clayton

Photos from the site show mud-covered cars queuing for car washes with the vehicles coated in brown/red sludge from the extraordinarily muddy roads.

It has only rained three times in the area in the past twelve months - during the Birdsville races, December last year and this week.

The Big Red Bash officially kicks off at 12.15pm on Tuesday July 4 and concludes on Thursday July 6.

An incredible 21 Australian artists will be performing at the Big Red Bash including John Williamson, Troy Cassar-Daley, Icehouse, Jack Jones, Kate Cebrano, Pete Murray and Human Nature.

The muddy mess at Big Red Bash. Photo: Danica Clayton

90+ photos: Ultimate Big Red Bash flashback gallery

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Originally published as Big Red ‘splash’: Insane photos show muddy hell at outback desert festival