Australia’s largest gathering of harnessed draught animals will come back bigger and better than before over the 2022 October long weekend in Barellan, thanks to the NSW Nationals in the state government’s Regional Events Acceleration Fund.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said The Good Old Days Festival is a unique event which recreates Australia’s pioneer heritage complete with farming activities and a Furphy Festival.
“This iconic festival will feature a whole range of fun activities including live music, market stalls, sheaf tossing, camel races, cow milking, butter churning, a grand parade and a camp oven dinner under the stars,” Mr Toole said.
“Visitors can journey back in time and enjoy poetry, a bush breakfast, scones made in a wood-fired oven, and enjoy a taste of Barellan’s own locally made beer that is brewed using locally grown barley.”
Nationals Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said while it was disappointing to cancel the 2021 event due to COVID-19, the October 2022 Good Old Days festival will be back with a bang and provide a significant boost to the local community.
“This event is really going to have it all, bringing together Clydesdales draught horses, bullocks, camels, donkeys, mules and goats in the one place to showcase farming practices from 150 years ago,” Ms Cooke said.
“The NSW Government’s $56,835 contribution will help ensure this event comes back bigger and better than ever.”
Committee Secretary Fiona Kibble said government funding was crucial to expanding the event to cater to a larger crowd and encourage people to extend their length of stay in the Riverina.
“The NSW Government’s injection has enabled us to create a pop-up glamping area for campers that will accommodate more people and encourage overnight visitation, injecting more money into the local economy,” Ms Kibble said.
The $40 million Regional Events Acceleration Fund is part of the $2 billion Regional Growth Fund, designed to support growing regional centres, activate local economies and improve services and community infrastructure for regional communities.
For further information go to: nsw.gov.au/REAFund.
