Over 350 litres of wine and 22kg of cheese will be consumed at this weekend’s highly anticipated Opera at Jimbour

New numbers have revealed just how much the Opera at Jimbour injects into the Western Downs economy, as organisers gear up for its 21st year this weekend.

Opera at Jimbour returns. Supplied Mitch Lowe

More than 150 musicians will perform this weekend as the highly anticipated Opera at Jimbour returns for its 21st year.

Run by Queensland Music Trails and set against the breathtaking backdrop of Jimbour House, the Opera will run from Friday until Sunday and feature internationally renowned Opera Queensland soloists Eva Kong, Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Iain Henderson, joined by musicians from Ensemble Q, Queensland Conservatorium and Griffith University and Camerata Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra.

Up to 1500 tickets have been sold for the exciting event with 11,000 visitor nights in region expected to rake in $$2m in visitor expenditure.

Over 350L of wine from local QLD wineries and 22kg of local cheese and charcuterie products will be consumed across the weekend.

“Opera at Jimbour not only brings world-class artists to our venues, but also provides meaningful economic impact to the wider Western Downs region.,” Acting CEO of QLD Music Festival Daryl Raven said.

“Across the weekend, we are thrilled to be welcoming over a thousand visitors from out-of-region, who will stay, explore and immerse themselves in local activities and experiences, while also buying locally from many of your homegrown businesses.”

Mr Raven expressed excitement about the event’s return, including the open air Amphitheatre for the first since 2019.

“We’re thrilled to welcome back Opera at Jimbour, a cherished event that has captivated thousands of locals, travellers and opera lovers alike over the event’s history, for this unique cultural tourism experience,” he said.

“The return of the Amphitheatre with a concert performance of Puccini’s “Tosca” adds an extra layer of magic to Saturday, offering patrons the opportunity to experience world class performances, against the picturesque backdrop of the Darling Downs, creating unforgettable memories for all.”

Tourism Minister Michael Healy said the event had positive tourism implications for the region.

“This signature event set against the backdrop of this historic home on the fertile Jimbour Plains is part of the Queensland Music Trails showcasing Queensland

only tourism experiences to a soundtrack of Australia’s finest musical acts,” he said.