Royal Sydney Easter Show, Birdsville Races: Most iconic Aussie bush events
With the Sydney Royal Easter Show on this week, we look at some of the most popular, fun and strange events celebrating rural Australia.
No matter where you’re from in Australia, there’s sure to be a regional event or show that draws a crowd to your corner of the world.
People from across the country take pride in their community’s show, field day, fundraising event, ute muster or rodeo, as a way to celebrate all things agricultural and regional.
The Weekly Times put the call out to see which annual events readers think are some of the most iconic.
And after a myriad of events were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 2022 is sure to see regional events return with vigour.
MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER BUSH FESTIVAL
April 7-10, Corryong, Victoria
Drawing huge crowds to the small high country township of Corryong, Victoria, The Man from Snowy River Bush Festival is a yearly celebration of traditional Australian bush heritage. Highlights of the festival include the iconic three-day-long MFSR horsemanship challenge, Riley’s Ride, the rodeo and a live re-enactment of the famous poem ‘Man from Snowy River’.
SYDNEY ROYAL EASTER SHOW
April 9-19, Sydney, NSW
First held in the 1820s, the Sydney Royal Easter Show is Australia’s largest ticketed event, celebrating Australia’s rural traditions. Eat at the Country Women’s Association tea room, view the Sydney Royal Horse Show, watch some of the country’s finest wool producers judged on the quality of their fleece, and much more at this annual celebration of Australian agriculture.
BIRDSVILLE RACES
April 10-11, Birdsville, Queensland
An event as unique as it is remote, the annual Birdsville Races draws huge crowds from all corners of the nation to the isolated township of Birdsville, situated on the edge of the Simpson Desert. With a permanent population of just 115, this community puts on an iconic race carnival boasting a $250,000 prize pool. Fashions on the field, the Fred Brophy Boxing Troupe, and live music at the renowned Birdsville Hotel are all highlights of the racing carnival.
OAKBANK EASTER RACING CARNIVAL
April 16-18, South Australia
The Oakbank Easter Racing Carnival is traditionally known as one of Australia’s best picnic race meetings, set among the beautiful Adelaide Hills landscape.
STAWELL GIFT
April 16-18, Stawell, Victoria
Australia’s oldest and richest short-distance running race, the Stawell Gift sees thousands of runners and athletics fans head to Stawell’s Central Park every Easter. For more than a century, the race was a men’s only event, but the carnival now includes events for both men and women. Iconic Australian athlete and gold medallist Cathy Freeman ran the women’s leg of the race in 1996.
TAMWORTH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL
April 18-24, Tamworth, NSW
Celebrating 50 years this year, the Tamworth Country Music Festival has been the homeland of country music and culture since the 1970s. The festival is the second biggest country music festival in the world, after Nashville, US. Performers travel from across the country to kick start their music career at the festival, eyeing off the coveted Golden Guitar award.
GRAMPIANS GRAPE ESCAPE
April 29 to May 1, Halls Gap, Victoria.
Set against one of the most beautiful natural backdrops in Australia, the Grampians Grape Escape in Halls Gap is a weekend of regional wine, food and music that cannot be missed.
ROAD TO RODEO LONGREACH
April 30 to May 1, Queensland
The Road to Rodeo is a new event series created by Isa Rodeo Limited, bringing a taste of the iconic Mount Isa Mines Rodeo to Queenslanders at venues all across the state.
HIGH COUNTRY HARVEST
May, Bright, Victoria
With a focus on the food and culture of Victotia’s high country, this autumn experience is a celebration of regional food, wine, and craft beer.
WARRNAMBOOL MAY RACING CARNIVAL
First Thursday in May, Warrnambool, Victoria
One of the country’s hallmark country racing events, the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival is famously held midweek in the first week of May, and features 23 flat races and seven jumps races.
RIVERINA FIELD DAYS
May, Griffith, NSW
Riverina Field Days is a two-day annual event held at the Griffith Showgrounds in May of each year, traditionally held the second weekend of May each year.
BEEF AUSTRALIA
May 5-11, 2024, Rockhampton, Queensland
Held every three years in the Queensland township of Rockhampton, Beef Australia, or ‘Beef Week’ as it’s affectionately known, is a week-long expo showcasing the best of Australia’s beef industry. Drawing people from both Australia and abroad, Beef Australia hosts a plethora of events, including a bull show, an industry symposium, cattle judging, and celebrity chef cooking demonstrations.
CASINO BEEF WEEK
May 21, Casino, NSW
Taking place over 11 days, the Casino Beef Week festival is an annual celebration of Australia’s agricultural industry and the rural way of life. Along with a number of social and industry events – including the cattle spectacular, the festival also crowns the Casino Beef Week Queen, in recognition of the achievements of rural ladies.
HUNTER VALLEY WINE AND BEER FESTIVAL
June 18, Hunter Valley, NSW
The Hunter Valley Wine and Beer Festival celebrates its 10 year anniversary in 2022. This community event showcases a wide array of wine, beer, gourmet food, cider, and more, offering a true Hunter Valley experience.
RUTHERGLEN WINERY WALKABOUT
June, Rutherglen, Victoria
Victoria’s oldest wine festival, the Rutherglen Winery Walkabout is one of the biggest wine festivals in the country. For more than 40 years, this event draws crowds from across the state to revel in a weekend of food and wine. Iconic events include the Great Australian Barrel Rolling Competition, and the Apex Rutherglen Grape Stomp.
FARMFEST
June, Toowoomba, Queensland
One of the nation’s largest agricultural events, FarmFest showcases and demonstrates a vast range of new products and services for punters, making it a one-stop farmer’s shop.
AUSTRALIAN KELPIE MUSTER
June 11-12, Casterton, Victoria
Here at The Weekly Times, we know the importance of a good working dog, and just how special man’s best friend can be for producers and families alike. The Australian Kelpie Muster at Casterton in Victoria’s Western District celebrates the skill and intelligence of the Kelpie dog, through a number of events such as the Kelpie Dash, Kelpie Hill Climb and the prized Kelpie High Jump.
WENTWORTH TRACTOR RALLY
June or July, Wentworth, NSW
Commemorating the role the humble tractor has played in saving the township of Wentworth during the 1956 floods, the Wentworth Tractor Rally host a number of events, including a tractor trek, tractor parade, truck and car displays, vintage machinery, and more. After being rescheduled in 2021, a new date is yet to be set for the 2022 event.
AUSTRALIAN SHEEP AND WOOL SHOW
July 15-17, Bendigo, Victoria
One of the largest events in the world of its type, some of the nation’s best sheep breeders attend the Australian Sheep and Wool Show to compete, along with some of Australia’s best foodies, fashionistas, and fibre lovers.
BIG RED BASH
July 5-7, Birdsville, Queensland
Under the wide open skies of the Simpson Desert, the Big Red Bash is home to one of the most remote music festivals in the world. Punters spend three nights camping under the stars, while listening to the best of Australian music. This year’s line-up includes Jimmy Barnes, Missy Higgins, and Kasey Chambers.
KATHERINE SHOW AND RODEO
July 15-16, Katherine, Northern Territory
One of the biggest events on the Katherine calendar, the show and rodeo is an event for all ages. Beginning with a day of equestrian events, the main show is held across two days with fun-filled activities for all, such as campdrafting, rodeo, dog jumping, and more.
BOULIA CAMEL RACES
July 15-17, Boulia, Queensland
Australia’s richest camel race, the Boulia Camel Races is truly an outback adventure like no other. In the land of the Min Min Light, three days of jam packed fun awaits those who venture out to this desert racing carnival, which culminates in the Thirsty Camel Cup. Camels must compete over 400m, and then again over 1000m, with the final prize money awarded for a run over 1500m.
SHEEPVENTION
July 31 to August 2, Hamilton, Victoria
The Sheepvention Rural Expo is one of the most iconic events in the livestock calendar. Set in the home of Victoria’s wool country, it is one of the biggest farming events in Victoria, bringing together everyone from farmers to fashion enthusiasts. Run by the Hamilton Pastoral and Agricultural Society, the annual event draws more than 15,000 visitors.
THE EKKA
August 6-14, Brisbane, Queensland
Connecting the city to the country, the Ekka – also known as the Royal Queensland Show – has been a key event for Queenslanders since 1876. Short for ‘Exhibition’, the Ekka has been held every years since bar three occasions: in 1919 due to Spanish flu, in 142 when the showgrounds were used as a staging depot during the Second World War, and in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
MALLEE MACHINERY FIELD DAYS
August, Speed, Victoria
Attracting more than 350 exhibitors and thousands of dollars worth of equipments and machinery, the Mallee Machinery Field Days are a key event on the regional calendar each year. The first field days were held in the late 1970s in a local paddock.
EYRE PENINSULA FIELD DAYS
August 9-11, Cleve, South Australia
The biennial Eyre Peninsula Field Days showcases agricultural innovations and services in Cleve, South Australia.
MOUNT ISA MINES RODEO
August 11-14, Mount Isa, Queensland
Heralded as one of the most spectacular rodeos in Australia, the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo offers punters world-class rodeo action over four action-packed days. Live concerts showcase some of the best talent in Australian music, the pride of the Australian rodeo circuit has something for everyone. The first event was held in 1958.
AGFEST
August 24 to September 2, Tasmania
Agfest is a multi-award-winning agricultural field days organised by volunteer members of Rural Youth Tasmania.
TOOWOMBA CARNIVAL OF FLOWERS
September 1-30, Toowoomba, Queensland
Since its inception back in 1949, the Toowomba Carnival of Flowers has blossomed into an iconic Queensland event. Originally created to boost the city’s economic activity after the Second World War, the carnival has since won the Gold Award for Major Festival at both the Queensland Tourism Awards and the Australian Tourism Awards.
COME BY CHANCE RACES
September, Come-by-Chance, NSW
Located about 100km northwest of Coonamble, and about 250km from Dubbo, the township of Come-by-Chance swells to cater for an influx of punters to see the famous picnic races. Events include the Miss Come-by-Chance, live bands, and a six-day race program with up to $37,000 in prize money.
WINTON OUTBACK FESTIVAL
September 19-23, 2023
Held each year in the September school holidays, the Winton Outback Festival is the perfect event for families, or anyone else, who loves the Australian outback. The festival’s signature event, the Quilton Australian Dunny Derby, tops off five days of quirky events, warm Outback hospitality and nightly live entertainment.
HENTY FIELD DAYS
September 20-22, Henty, NSW
One of the most iconic field days on the agricultural calendar, the Henty Machienery Field Days event is set in the heart of the nation’s food bowl in southern NSW. Attracting more than 60,000 visitors each year, Henty celebrates and showcases the latest in farming produce, agronomy, country lifestyle, agribusiness and, of course, machinery and farming equipment.
THE ROYAL MELBOURNE SHOW
September 22 to October 2, Melbourne, Victoria
CMC ROCKS
September 23-25, Ipswich, Queensland
One of the nation’s biggest country music events, CMC Rocks is set to showcase some of the world’s biggest names in country music later this year in Queensland.
DENI UTE MUSTER
September 30 to October 1, Deniliquin, NSW
When you think of iconic bush events, you can’t not mention the Deni Ute Muster. Since its inception in 1999, the NSW township of Deniliquin has lay claim to the title of the Ute Capital of the World. The festival attracts 20,000 people each year, celebrating the iconic Australian institute that is the ute.
ELMORE FIELD DAYS
October 4-6, Burnewang, Victoria
Another key event on the agricultural calendar, the Elmore Field Days in Victoria showcase the latest and greatest in farming innovation and technology. The event was founded in 1964, and since its humble beginnings now features machinery demonstrations, livestock, ewe trials and cropping demonstrations.
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL FIELD DAYS
October 20-22, Orange, NSW
The Australian National Field Days is the oldest annual agricultural exhibition in the country. Established in 1952, the AND continues to offer visitors a unique insight into the future of agriculture with the commitment to Advancing Australian Agriculture.
SHITBOX RALLY
Twice yearly, from Hay to Adelaide, and Wollongong to Mackay
The challenge: to drive cars worth only $1000 across some of Australia’s most remote road networks, all in the name of charity. The Shitbox Rally isn’t a race, but rather an opportunity for those brave enough (or mad enough) to see how far their $1000 car can get them, in the most wild, adventurous way possible.
WALLABADAH CUP
New Year’s Eve, NSW
The Wallabadah Jockey Club has been part and parcel of the NSW racing scene since 1852. But on the eve of the club’s 170-year anniversary meeting, it was announced the club would not host any more meetings, sending one of the nations oldest races to the history books.
HANGING ROCK RACES
New Year’s Day and Australia Day
Held twice yearly at Victoria’s picturesque Hanging Rock, this race meet attracts thousands of people. The first official race meeting was held at the iconic Hanging Rock on New Year’s Day 1886, however thoroughbred racing has been taking place at the base of the Rock on an unofficial basis from at lest the 1870s.
BARLEY BANQUET
March, Rupanyup, Victoria
Set in the remote Wimmera region, the cropping township of Rupanyup celebrates its farming community each year with the Barley Banquet, while also taking the opportunity to raise funds for local projects and infrastructure. The banquet is a black tie event held in a local farmers barley paddock, which really puts a spin on the idea of dining from ‘paddock to plate’.
FARM WORLD
March 24-27, Lardner Park, Lardner, Victoria
One of Victoria’s most well-loved agricultural shows, Farm World provides plenty for producers great and small, to more urban ‘lifestyle’ farmers to enjoy. A huge array of agricultural machinery is displayed each year, along with cattle and sheep, a rodeo, and an extensive equestrian expo. Last year, Farm World kicked off with a record opening day crowd, after the 2020 event was cancelled due to Covid-19.
ELMORE TRACTOR PULL
March, Elmore, Victoria
Since the first Elmore Field Day in 1976, the tractor pull has become an iconic event in the agricultural calendar. The rules? A modified tractor pulls a weighted sled along a dirt track. The further the tractor travels, the more forward the weight goes, creating a weight that’s harder to pull.
SEYMOUR ALTERNATIVE FARMING EXPO
April, Seymour, Victoria
Held in the heart of Victoria at Kings Park Seymour, the expo showcases about 400 exhibitors and attracts 20,000 visitors across three days, where punters can check out the latest technology, practices and trends in small and backyard farming.
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