Bait, beer and big fish: Weipa retailers win extended hours to gear up for Fishing Classic
A classic tourism event turns 20 this year, and with it comes special trading hours and big crowds.
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Weipa is set to reel in a record crowd next month as thousands of fishing fans, families, and tourists descend on the remote Cape York town for the 20th anniversary of the Weipa Fishing Classic — with a major bonus for visitors this year: extended shop trading hours.
The annual event, running from June 6-8, is one of regional Queensland’s biggest fishing competitions and a highlight on the Far North tourism calendar.
But until now, the influx of visitors has often outpaced the town’s limited retail capacity, with large stores restricted by Queensland’s trading laws.
That changed last week when the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission officially declared the Fishing Classic a “special event”, clearing the way for non-exempt businesses such as supermarkets, hardware stores, and general retailers to stay open longer during the peak weekend.
In his decision, Commissioner John Dwyer described the Classic as a “stand-alone, singular event of which there is no replica or rival”, adding that it was of local, national and even international significance.
“This year, the fish won’t be the only ones getting hooked — thousands of keen anglers and their families will be lured in by everything Weipa has to offer,” the Industrial Commission ruling said.
Although a sporting calendar highlight, Commissioner Dwyer also found no strong evidence of cultural or artistic programming but stressed its economic and tourism importance to Weipa and the broader Cape York region.
The decision is a win not just for local traders, but also for the thousands of anglers and families expected to attend what is now one of the biggest events of its kind in the state.
With shops able to open longer, visitors will be able to stock up on bait, gear, groceries, and more without time restrictions.
Figures presented to the commission showed the 2024 Classic attracted more than 10,000 visitors, more than doubling Weipa’s usual population of 4000.
This year will mark two decades of the event and is expected to break that record and possibly inject more than $1 million into the local economy.
The National Retail Association, which applied for the extended hours, argued that local shops needed more flexibility to handle the surge.
NRA spokesperson David Stout said previously, retailers were unable to meet demand due to restricted trading hours, which frustrated visitors and put pressure on the workforce.
“This declaration gives Weipa the ability to operate like any other major event host,” he said.
“It means food, fuel, supplies, and services can keep pace with the crowd.”
■ The special declaration applies to the key retail areas of Rocky Point, Central Ave, and Kerr Point Drive, and will run from Friday June 6, through to Sunday June 8.
It does not compel shops to open, but allows them to do so if they choose.
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Originally published as Bait, beer and big fish: Weipa retailers win extended hours to gear up for Fishing Classic
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