Birdsville Races 2022: Revellers embrace rains at iconic outback event

Blink twice and you’d think Splendour 2.0 had risen from the bog — but in the tiny town of Birdsville, rain and mud were hardly enough to dampen the party.

Birdsville’s sudden transformation into a vast span of red and brown bog wasn’t enough to deter punters from embracing the outback’s wildest — and now wettest — party of the year.

Celebrating 140 years, the Birdsville Races was forced to postpone day one of festivities due to an “unseasonal” deluge falling on Thursday, turning the famed red dirt racetrack into a muddy mess.

“So much work goes into putting the Birdsville Races on and so many punters travel thousands of kilometres to join us at this unique outback carnival,” Gary Brook, Vice President of the Birdsville Race Club, said of the weather event and postponement decision.

While the first day of the Birdsville Races was postponed, day two will proceed as planned. Picture: Brian Roberts/MaxAgency

Forget shoes, some revellers chose to go barefoot in the mud. Picture: Brian Roberts/MaxAgency

The Birdsville Hotel had all the action on day one of the race weekend. Picture: Pete Murray

“Unfortunately, the weather has come into play over the past day and we’re disappointed to have to delay the start of the races.

“But spirits remain high in Birdsville as thousands of punters flock into town.”

As the skies begin to clear over south-west Queensland on Friday, around 6000 revellers will officially be released onto the famous track on Saturday morning with event organisers giving day two of the event the green light to go ahead.

Abbie, from Darwin, and Ben from Yass venture through swamp-like campgrounds to their site.

Day one of the Birdsville Races has been postponed due to unforeseen rains. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/MaxAgency.

For 24-year-old physiotherapist Nadia, and 30-year-old hairdresser Alana, no amount of rain was going to ruin their trip — after travelling “thousands of kilometres” from Brisbane to the Simpson Desert.

Setting up camp with thousands of others along the Diamantina River on the outskirts of town, the booze was well and truly flowing at breakfast.

Punters enjoy the mud at Birdsville ahead of the Birdsville Races. Picture: Vanessa Brown/news.com.au

Alana, left, and Nadia, right, cracked open a few Great Northern tins for breakfast. Picture: Vanessa Brown/news.com.au

“We’ve been wanting to do the Birdsville Races for a while,” Nadia told news.com.au.

“We have travelled over 2000km to get here. We looked last week, and it was sunny skies, and now look at it.

“But it has been great … spirits are high, it’s been a little disappointing with day one of the races being off, but hopefully Saturday will go ahead.”

Revellers show off their campsite, which went from dust to mud in a matter of hours.

Mick (front), Matt (centre) and Dave (back) have a campfire and a loaded Esky for the weekend — rain, hail or shine. Picture: Vanessa Brown/news.com.au

Alana, who recently weathered the chaos of Splendour in the Grass, said the atmosphere amongst revellers in Birdsville was vastly different — with everyone helping each other out in the bog and making the most of the unexpected deluge.

“This is a much better vibe than Splendour … kills it,” she laughed.

Most campsites at least got a water view for the weekend.

“The set up is much better, being able to be in a camper rather than a tent makes a big difference. You’ve got to make the most of it and be creative, which everyone is doing — so the spirits are still high.”

Abbie, from Darwin, and Ben, who travelled from Yass in NSW said they didn’t expect the amount of rain the region received on Thursday.

Abbie and Ben said their swag weathered the rain and are ready to hit the pub. Picture: Vanessa Brown/news.com.au

“Hopefully it gets better from here,” Ben told news.com.au.

“The pub has been a great place to hang out … it was pumping. All things considered, our sleep was actually pretty good last night in a swag and off the ground.”

Mark and his sons Ethan and Toby, travelled from Byron Bay to embrace the races from one of Australia’s “driest” towns — and were surprised when the weather turned into a day of relentless rain.

Some campers embraced the mud, while others made the decision to move to higher ground. Picture: Vanessa Brown/news.com.au

Campers were given unexpected water views in Birdsville.

As the muddy conditions increased on Friday morning, the trio were forced to pack up their site and move to higher ground.

“We have spent about a week travelling and camping at different destinations to get here and have had a great time,” Mark explained, adding it was the first time his sons had come to the famous race event.

“We’re heading to the pub, and going to Fred Brophy’s boxing tent.

“We are just going to set up now on the side of the road somewhere, on a bit of higher ground.

“It’s been a bit of a nightmare, but you have to smile and enjoy it.”

Revellers making the most of the wet, cold and muddy conditions. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/MaxAgency

Each year, the ‘Melbourne Cup of the Outback’, sees the tiny town of Birdsville swell from 115 residents to around 6000 visitors.

The Birdsville Races started as a humble bush meet in 1882 and has now grown over more than a century to become a bucket list experience for intrepid travellers, racing enthusiasts, grey nomads and culture vultures alike.

This year celebrates the 140th anniversary of the famous two-day event.