General News
29 September, 2025
Outback Festival draws thousands to birthplace of Waltzing Matilda
Winton packed in dozens of events for the hordes of travellers for the traditional event.
The Outback spirit was alive and beating strong as Winton roared to life for the 28th Outback Festival.
Over five action-packed days, the tiny town was transformed into a buzzing hub of celebration, drawing thousands of visitors from across Australia to experience the quirkiest and most iconic Outback events.
Festival president Sandy Gillies said the event was a powerful reminder of the strength and pride of Outback communities.
“We can’t believe how many people we welcomed to Winton for this year’s Outback Festival,” she said.
“Our town of just 880 residents swelled ten-fold as record numbers of campers from all over Australia came to join the celebration. It was an incredible sight, proof that the Outback spirit is truly alive and well.”
Commemorating the 150-year milestone of Winton, local residents and festival visitors created with Josh Arnold a music video The Spirit of Winton, celebrating its pioneers, heroes and legends.
The 2025 Outback Festival packed five days with over 40 quirky events, including the gruelling five-day Outback Iron Man, Iron Woman, and three-day Iron Junior Challenges, bush poetry breakfasts, whip-cracking championships, swag-throwing contests, a 100km cycle challenge, True Blue Aussie sports, live music, and the Quilton Australian Dunny Derby.
With 17 wacky outhouses on wheels charging down the 200-metre obstacle course, teams battled it out for the coveted Golden Porcelain Throne, the title of Australia’s Fastest Dunny, and a flush of prize cash.
Festival coordinator Robyn Stephens said the Dunny Derby was the ultimate mix of Aussie humour and outback spirit.
“The Quilton Australian Dunny Derby attracts all kinds of dressed-up dunnies and their dedicated jockeys. You’ve got to see it to believe it, it’s pure, hilarious fun,” she said.
“The Outback Festival has been coined by visitors as Queensland’s quirkiest event. It’s a Winton tradition we’ve proudly kept alive since 1972, when we started the festival in response to a devastating drought, with the Dunny Derby since 1991.
“This year, even mayors of Outback Queensland participated in the Derby, with the Mayoral Mayhem Dunny Challenge.
“Mayor Janene Fegan from McKinlay Shire Council took out the Golden Throne award.”
The 2025 Outback Festival culminated with the 150th Gala Charity Celebration dinner raising more than $26,650 for Angel Flight Australia, a charity that coordinates free non-emergency flights to help country people trying to deal with the triple trouble of bad health, poor finances, and daunting distance.
All flights are free and may involve patients travelling to medical facilities anywhere in Australia.
Winton mayor Cathy White said: “We look forward to this event every two years, it’s part of our culture of living in the Bush.
“The Outback Festival injects two million dollars into our local economy, just the sugar hit we need to carry us through to next year’s tourist season.
“We can’t wait to roll out the toilet paper to welcome everyone back in 2027, where all roads will lead to Winton, so be sure to come out!”
The Outback Festival will return on September 21-25 in 2027.