Bumper crowds expected at historic 60th Mount Isa Rodeo

Caravan Parks are overflowing, ‘Swag City’ bookings have doubled from last year’s event and Platinum and Gold reserved seating has been sold out for weeks ahead of what’s tipped to be the largest Mount Isa Rodeo in history.

Commencing today (9th August) and running until Sunday, this year’s event will be Australia’s first rodeo to offer competitors the opportunity to qualify for the World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA) $500,000USD semi-finals event to be held in Guthrie, Oaklahoma,USA in November 2018.

Looking forward to the event, Queensland Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said thousands of people lined the streets for the Isa Street Festival yesterday - a strong sign that numbers would be strong across the four-day event.

Minister Jones stated “events like the Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo are an important part of the outback’s $573 million tourism industry.

“The Isa Rodeo is an iconic Queensland event which now attracts around 15,000 people who spend more than $8 million each year.

 “More than ever before, we’re finding that visitors to Queensland are looking for something different. Mt Isa has unique experiences in spades.

“We’re working hard to publicise these experiences in key tourism markets overseas.

“We expect strong numbers at the Isa Rodeo this year. This is a testament to the fact that our work is paying off.”

The largest event of its type in the southern hemisphere, the Rodeo will offer a new partnership between Professional Bull Riders Australia (PBRA) and WCRA for Australian rodeo athletes.

Minister Jones added “this opportunity for locals to compete at international level builds on the partnerships that the Isa Rodeo has created with US-based trade partners and media to support a consumer campaign and special broadcast production to drive US visitation to Queensland.”

Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo General Manager Natalie Flecker said the rodeo was started in 1959 by the local Rotary Clubs who wanted to put the fledgling mining town of Mount Isa on the map.

Flecker advised “the event has been supported by Mount Isa Mines from its inception and has grown to become the largest rodeo in the southern hemisphere, attracting more than 600 competitors from around Australia and overseas and offering $230,000 in prize money and buckles.”