Birdsville is a frontier town situated between the mighty Simpson Desert, the world’s largest sand dune desert and Sturt’s Stony Desert. Amongst the arid landscape, Birdsville sits at the northern end of the famous Birdsville Track. For one weekend a year, the town comes alive as thousands descend upon it for the annual Birdsville Races.
Way back in the Spring of 1882, a group of 150 owners, managers and stockmen came together on the South Australian and Queensland border for the first – and unofficial – Birdsville Races event. They managed to raise nearly 200 pounds by public subscription, enough to draw a significant crowd at the time – but a far cry from the $300,000 in prize money on offer today. Instead of bookies standing trackside, bets were settled at ‘Tucker’s Hotel’ – a dignified affair after the last race was called.
What happened next reads like a movie script, and the first iteration of the Birdsville Race Club was born.
The community gathered at Burt and Co.’s large iron store and the ‘Border Jockey Club’ was formed, being 42 members strong. Stewards were appointed, a working committee elected, and the next race meeting was fixed for July, 1883. Now, well over a century later, the race continues to grow as an iconic Australian event – and something that is high on many people’s ‘bucket list’.
Since the first race meet, this iconic day at the track has grown more than 4,000 percent to what you see today. The carnival now includes a 13-race program and boasts prize money of $300,000. The focus for the future is improving the facilities both trackside and in town, while still keeping the quintessential Birdsville Races atmosphere alive. The race continues to be a major event for the local community and raises funds for much-needed club facilities and proudly supports the Royal Flying Doctor Service Queensland section.
