Australian Pinball Championship Series comes to Townsville at Empire Alternacade

It will be series of firsts when the Australian Pinball Championship Series hits the pinball machines in Townsville, with the women’s nationals seeing the best players converge on the city.

Empire Alternacade owner Jason Lynch. Picture: Evan Morgan

It will be series of firsts when the Australian Pinball Championship Series hits the pinball machines at Empire Alternacade in Townsville in February.

It will be the first time the championships will be held in the city and it will also be the first time the championships will also include a Women’s Australian Championship Series.

Tournament director and Empire Alternacade owner Jason Lynch has been working around the clock to get set for the event which feature’s the nation’s best pinheads, including two Townville competitors vying for the women’s title.

“It’s a great opportunity to further put Townsville on the map as a pinball hot spot,” he said.

“A lot of the competitive players around Australia haven’t been here yet, so it’d be a good chance for them to see it in action. Hopefully we can put on a good show,

“We’ve excited about it. Mum and I have been working around the clock to try and get it up to scratch — heaps of long nights of fixing games,” Lynch said.

Townsville pinball players Amelia Applewaite and Pandora Brown will be competing in the inaugural Women's Championships Series. Picture: Evan Morgan

Townsville player Pandora Brown said she was excited and honoured to be taking part in the first Australian women’s series.

She first started playing pinball machines after getting a job at the venue six years ago and quickly picked up the bug.

“I just took to it like a duck to water,” she said.

Brown has been waiting patiently for her own customised pinball machine to arrive from the US.

“I’m waiting on a limited edition Pulp Fiction machine. It’s coming from Chicago, and it’s taken about three years.”

She is getting herself mentally prepared for the upcoming series.

“I think the key is you just go into it and have fun. That’s the main thing. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself, and enjoy it,” Brown said.

Fellow Townsville player Amelia Applewaite has been playing pinballs for three years and also can’t wait for the competition.

“I’m super excited about getting the chance to play at a national level against so many amazing other competitors,” Applewaite said.

“Being able to do that here in Townsville, at home, where my family and friends can come along and cheer us along, is going to be especially great,” she said.

Both would love to see more females taking up pinball.

“We run monthly tournaments in Townsville all year long here and it’s a great community environment that really welcomes people in, and we’re always happy to meet new players,” Applewaite said.

The championships, including side events, will be at Alternacade Empire at the Basement and Level One from February 20-23 and for more information go to www.pinhead.com.au/2025-australian-pinball-championships

Originally published as Australian Pinball Championship Series comes to Townsville at Empire Alternacade