Land staying in state hands
Patrick Goldsmith. Five troublesome parcels of unalienated Crown Land within the Yorke Peninsula Council area will stay in the care and control of the state government after discussions regarding the environmental impacts of increased visitation numbers ... Unalienated Crown Land is public land which is owned and managed by the state government, giving council no authority over the activity which takes place on it.
Bonza’s new Melbourne to Tamworth route strikes a chord with travellers
In what will be music to travellers’ ears, Bonza has launched its Melbourne (Tullamarine) to Tamworth route on 2 May 2023. The new route, connecting Australia’s Country Music Capital with its Cuisine Capital, will operate twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays with fares starting from $59 per person (one way).
Nation’s largest gathering of harnessed draught animals at authentic heritage event
Planning is underway for the nation’s largest gathering of harnessed draught animals, The Good Old Days Festival, at Barellan in southern NSW on September 30-October 1, 2023. The committee is putting together a full program of authentic heritage events ... Barellan Working Clydesdale Committee member Bruce Bandy, and Aleks Berzins, of Exeter, will drive a team of over 20 heavy horses pulling a wool wagon around the arena.
21st Boab Metals Ord Valley Muster, 19-27 May 2023
The Kimberley’s Ultimate Festival is back in 2023. The Boab Metals Ord Valley Muster will be held 19 - 27 May 2023 in Kununurra, Miriwoong and Gajirrabeng country, in Western Australia’s northwest ... A curated program of special events, from big concerts to lunchtime sessions, station luncheons, comedy, Indigenous culture and arts and family-friendly festivities kick off the East Kimberley’s tourism season.
Regional tourism reaches record high: Bettison
Regional South Australia has rocketed toward its 2025 tourism target and a new record-high, hitting almost $4 billion in 2022 – some three years ahead of schedule. Latest data shows regional visitor expenditure hit an all-time high $3.98 billion in 2022, just $200 million shy of its $4.0 billion target set for December 2025.
Preventing future mining applications at the Bird in Hand gold deposit: Koutsantonis
The ‘Bird in Hand’ gold deposit area at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills has been proclaimed by the Governor at the request of the State Labor Government, protecting it from future mining applications. The land protected under the proclamation is the same area that was subject to a previous development application by Terramin Australia, with the move effectively prohibiting any future applications over the known Bird in Hand gold deposit.
New sister city for Barossa
The region is set to enjoy a boost to economic, cultural and educational opportunities as The Barossa Council gears up to enter into a formalised sister-city agreement with the City of Grapevine, Texas which is the fifth largest wine producing state in the United States. Barossa Mayor Bim Lange said as major wine and food destinations, the two regions share many similarities and a global reputation for premium wine, food and events.
Goldies manager calls out TCA for forgetting about the Barkly
The Manager of the Goldfields Hotel was not a happy camper this week when a customer emailed him the latest Tourism Central Australia (TCA) Dining Guide publicised on its website to promote restaurants and caf̩s in the central NT region ... "The Barkly seems to be the Bermuda Triangle of the Territory Рforget the Berrimah Line Рit should be the Capricorn Line Рeverything north of Alice is forgotten about": Jason Groves.
All British Bike Rally
The 45th annual All British Rally, held last weekend, brought classic vintage British motorcycle enthusiasts from as nearby as Yandoit and as far as the Apple Isle into Maldon’s Main St for a day of riding revelry ... The full canon of vintage British bikes was all on display; Norton, Triumph, Royal Enfield, BSA, Velocette – all the big hitters.
New walking trail for national park in WA’s Kimberley: Whitby
A new $150,000 walking trail has been unveiled in Kununurra's Mirima National Park in the heart of Western Australia's East Kimberley ... This is the fourth trail within the national park and the longest at 3.5 kilometres.
Masters to make history
Fin Hanson. SA Masters Games is set to return to the Copper Coast in 2024. It will be the third time the Copper Coast has hosted the event in four years and the first time in SA Masters Games history a region has hosted in back-to-back years.
2023 SA Wooden Boat Festival on this weekend
The countdown is on for the 2023 South Australian Wooden Boat Festival (SAWBF), which is set to take place this weekend (29-30 April). Thanks to major sponsors Coorong Quays, this year’s festival will be held at Hindmarsh Island’s – Alexandrina Cove, providing visitors with front-row seats to the action.
Son of a gun salutes
After completing his apprenticeship in the junior ranks by winning two titles in 2028 an 2019, Tooma-based horseman Travis Bandy has taken out the senior Stockman’s Challenge at this year’s Man From Snowy River Bush Festival. Travis is following in his father Scott’s footsteps, a five-time victor of the prestigious event.
Stage filled with rhythm and rhyme
Georgina Swan. As stockwhips woke the echoes, they gathered at Banjo’s Block to celebrate the tradition that gave rise to the Man From Snowy River festival - bush poetry and music. For the audience, it was a chance to pay homage to Banjo Paterson’s iconic poem, to hear favourite classic verses and to discover new poets and works...
Mayor: new airline big boost to tourism
According to Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio, this week’s arrival of Bonza Airline’s inaugural Melbourne to Toowoomba flight is a massive boost for regional tourism and business operators, event organisers and travellers.
Community in full fling for 118th Maclean Highland Gathering
An estimated record number of spectators tartaned up and headed to the riverside community of Maclean on April 7 and 8 to experience a jubilant, colourful, and cultural celebration of all things Scottish during the 118th Maclean Highland Gathering. Amidst the dominant humming of bagpipes, Chief Peter Smith from the Lower Clarence Scottish Association declared the crowd was the largest he had seen in more than 20 years...
Nhill Silo Heritage Project reveals top maintenance priorities
Embracing a huge restoration project means there’s always something new to keep you out of trouble. In the case of Nhill Silo, large-scale maintenance works are now underway.
The Gather Round
Over the weekend Kaniva and Nhill saw an influx of traffic due to the AFL Gather Round which was held in Adelaide from Thursday to Sunday ... Kaniva’s Little Guys Pizza owner Nakita Jewell said, "We were really busy and had a few repeat customers on the way back, which is a good sign." Nhill’s Wimmera Bakery Manager Teresa Ross said, "Both last Friday and Monday have been so busy, which is awesome. We have sold out of everything on both days. It’s great for the little business that has struggled to stay open over covid."
Opening night success and winners honoured in first weekend of the 2023 Kangaroo Island Easter Art Exhibition
The opening weekend of the Kangaroo Island Easter Art Exhibition has been a resounding success with higher-than expected visitors, increased artist participation and healthy sales. Lori Smith winning the esteemed the Diana Keir Art Award with her oil portrait of a local Islander, called Staring at the Sun.
A fair to remember
The Maldon Easter Fair has once again drawn thousands of visitors to the enchanting town, leaving everyone in awe of its remarkable community. The 146th event had it all; an ambitious celebration of the humble scone, a genuine back street billy cart race and a vividly picturesque street parade.
For the love of cars
The people who love cars are like a family, of sorts. “Once you’ve been bitten by the bug,” said Greg, “it stays with you for life.” And for Greg, Leanne, and Andrew, this love of cars has been the driving factor in them deciding to host Charlton’s very own (and very first) Show ‘N’ Shine, coming up on April 29-30.
Rain and cold didn’t deter fans from the pull of Quamby
Despite the rain and arctic conditions, Tractor Pull enthusiasts headed to the birthplace of Tractor Pulling in Australia, Quambatook, for the Annual Easter Tractor Pull. With two lanes available at Quambatook, a mini sled was held on one side for smaller vehicles, while the other hosted the executioner sled for the larger vehicles.
