The outback spirit was alive and beating strong in the heart of Outback Queensland 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,” Ms Gillies 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.”
Sharing the spirit of the Outback and commemorate the 150 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 iconic 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.
The crowd was on the edge of their loo seats as the ‘Vladimir Poo-tin’ claimed glory, crossing the finish line just seconds ahead of ‘Kiss My Arse’ in second place, and in third the ‘Septic Tanks.’
The winning team sharing, “This was the funniest day of my life. We’ll be returning every two years for the Dunny Derby, for the rest of our lives.”
Competitors from across the country brought plenty of cheek and creativity, with crowd-pleasing team names including ‘Kung Poo Pandas,’ French inspired ‘Oui Oui,’ the ‘Royal Flushers’ and Winton Hospital nurses’ team ‘Urine Good Hands.’
Winning jockey from the 2024 Melbourne Cup, Robbie Dolan, joined in as jockey for the ‘Dolly Phartons’. “This race is harder than being a jockey for horse race,” laughed Robbie, dressed in ‘Jolene’ silks. “But it’s great to out here. The people are so kind and loving out here.”
Festival Coordinator, Robyn Stephens OAM said the Derby is 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. 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,” said Robyn. “With Mayor Cr. Janene Fegan from McKinlay Shire Council taking out the Golden Throne award.”
The Quilton Australian Dunny Derby pays tribute to the humble thunderbox, an Aussie invention mostly replaced by modern plumbing, except in Winton, where red-dirt hospitality rolls out the welcome mat for visitors every two years to celebrate a uniquely Australian icon.
The 2025 Outback Festival culminated with the 150th Gala Charity Celebration dinner raising over $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.
Located in the heart of Outback Queensland, Winton has thrice been crowned Queensland’s Favourite Tiny Tourism Town (2022, 2023 and 2024).
Winton Mayor, Cr 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 21–25 September 2027, so mark your calendars for another week of true-blue outback fun!