The prestigious 2025 Queensland Top Tourism Town Awards were recently held in Brisbane with Stanthorpe winning silver.

The announcement, made by the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC), celebrates communities that offer outstanding visitor experiences and strong tourism leadership.

The Queensland Top Tourism Town Awards highlight the best of regional Queensland, recognising towns that demonstrate a commitment to growing tourism through innovation, community collaboration, and memorable visitor experiences. Stanthorpe ticked all the boxes.

Bowen claimed the title of Top Tourism Town of population over 5,000.

Southern Downs Mayor Melissa Hamilton proudly accepted the award on behalf of the region during the official ceremony.

“I am so proud of Stanthorpe and all of our amazing tourism operators,”

Mayor Hamilton said. “We congratulate all the winners from across Queensland and thank the Southern Downs community who rallied behind the nomination and voted for Stanthorpe. This award helps shine a spotlight on the incredible tourism offerings we have in our region.”

This article appeared in Allora Advertiser, 25 June 2025.