Mystery $1.6 million Lotto winner found after 39 days

The search for Gympie’s newest millionaire is over after almost 40 days.

The winning entry was purchased at Nextra Gympie at Gympie Central Shopping Centre. Co-owner Kelly Goatham said she was pleased to hear the mystery division one winner had come forward to claim their prize.

A Sunshine Coast man spent more than a month in disbelief after discovering he’d won $1.6 million in a Saturday Gold Lotto draw, unsure if the life-changing news could possibly be real.

The man held one of the three division one winning entries nationally in Saturday Gold Lotto draw 4563, on April 12, 2025 and scored $1,607,641.94.

The winning entry wasn’t registered to The Lott Members Club, which meant officials from The Lott had to wait for the ticket holder to check their ticket and come forward.

The winning entry was purchased at Nextra Gympie at Central Shopping Centre.

The winning entry was purchased at Nextra Gympie at Gympie Central Shopping Centre. Co-owner Kelly Goatham said she was pleased to hear the mystery division one winner had come forward to claim their prize.

“It’s pretty surreal,” the man said when an official from The Lott confirmed his windfall.

“It’s taken a lot to sink in.

“My mum and two uncles were big Golden Casket fans. I don’t think they did very well in terms of winnings, but they would be very happy to hear that I’ve taken home division one myself.

“I went to the local newsagency to check my ticket and the young girls behind the counter said they couldn’t pay out the prize. That’s when I knew it was big.

The winning entry was purchased at Nextra Gympie at Gympie Central Shopping Centre. Co-owner Kelly Goatham said she was pleased to hear the mystery division one winner had come forward to claim their prize.

“I just had to sit and ponder the win for a month. I couldn’t believe it.

“I’ve also kept the win on the downlow. I haven’t told anyone about the win. I don’t think I will.”

With $1.6 million about to boost his bank account, the man said a new set of wheels was top priority.

“I need a new car. I will keep the one I have and fix it up, but it’s time to upgrade it. Thank you very much!”

The winning entry was purchased at Nextra Gympie at Gympie Central Shopping Centre.

Nextra Gympie owner Kelly Goatham said she was pleased to hear the mystery division one winner had come forward to claim their prize.

“There were certainly a few expletives when we found out we sold a division one winning entry,” Kelly said.

“My co-owner Justene thought there was a snake in the house by the way I had yelled out to her.

“The proof is in the pudding that we can, in fact, sell a division one winning entry.

“This is the first time Justene and I have sold a division one winning entry since we took over. We came in early to get our store decorated with balloons and posters, and we’ve been sharing the exciting news with all of our customers.

“Congratulations to the winning man. We wish him all the very best and thank him for supporting Nextra Gympie.”

The winning numbers in Saturday Gold Lotto draw 4563 on April 12, were 45, 3, 22, 17, 13 and 6, while the supplementary numbers were 29 and 31.

Across Australia, there were three division one winning entries – two in Western Australia and one in Queensland.