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From star gazing and bush storytelling to camp drafting and dunny racing, The Outback is set to come alive in 2019 and beyond with dozens of new and much-loved tourism events and experiences receiving more than $1.1 million in funding.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the 27 recipients of round one of the Year of Outback Tourism Events Program in Parliament today.

“The array of exciting events being supported is as vast as our Outback itself,” the Premier said.

“Grants of up to $100,000 will go to supporting rugby carnivals, a regatta, a stockman’s challenge, music and food festivals, horse races, an Indigenous walking trail and arts projects.

“There are events already on the calendar like Surat’s Cobb and Co Festival, Birdsville’s Big Red Bash and Cunnamulla’s Fella Festival and Winton’s Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival to make them bigger and better.

“And there are new events too with Longreach putting on an Outback Paddle Regatta and River Fest, and the Charleville Cosmos Centre is hosting a two-night astronomical event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.

“This first round of the Year of Outback Tourism Events Program includes events in 24 of the 27 local government areas that form Outback Queensland, so there is a good chance there will be a special experience awaiting tourists no matter where in the region they roam.

“We’ll be opening round two next month so there’ll be plenty more opportunities to further boost tourism in the Outback.”

The Premier said she declared 2019 the Year of Outback Tourism and announced this new $3 million program to attract new visitors to this magical part of Queensland.

“The fascinating history, unique natural beauty, rich indigenous heritage and exceptionally friendly people of The Outback make it a major tourism asset for our State,” she said.

“Tourism is already worth more than $350 million and supports 3700 jobs in Outback Queensland, and our Government is working with locals to see these numbers continue to grow.