Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations The Honourable Jarrod Bleijie
- 2025 Chinchilla Melon Festival receives major funding boost
- Iconic event attracts thousands of visitors to regional Queensland
- MelonFest has been held every two years since 1994
One of the most iconic tourism events in regional Queensland has received a major funding boost, after the Crisafulli Government pledged its support for the 2025 Chinchilla Melon Festival. A one-off $100,000 payment will help the event continue to grow, after more than 20,000 visitors attended MelonFest in 2023. Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie and Member for Callide Bryson Head made the announcement in front of thousands of attendees at the event today. MelonFest is one of the state's most loved family-friendly tourism events in the Western Downs, since its inception in 1994.
Chinchilla earned its reputation as the nation's melon capital by providing one-quarter of Australia's watermelons, rockmelons, and honeydew melons. The Big Melon Slice stands three metres high and nine metres wide on the Warrego Highway welcoming visitors to town. MelonFest is held every two years and revellers enjoy a range of events, novelty games, competitions, tours, entertainment, and melon-based cuisine.
Mr Bleijie said the festival's success and popularity were among the main reasons why the Crisafulli Government made the funding pledge.
"For more than 30 years the Chinchilla Melon Festival has been a key event on the Queensland calendar and the Crisafulli Government overwhelmingly supports it," Mr Bleijie said. "MelonFest emphasises the importance of the region and the contribution it makes by delivering melons across Queensland and interstate. "Locals and visitors flock to Chinchilla every two years to enjoy a range of melon-related activities like skiing on watermelons or taking part in the melon bungy.
"This event is one-in-a-melon."
Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Resources and Critical Ministers and Member for Callide Bryson Head said the festival had become a major drawcard for visitors.
"As a significant visitor attraction for the Western Downs, we are proud to support community-driven events such as MelonFest," Mr Head said. "I'm honoured to represent a region that hosts a unique and popular festival. "MelonFest will continue to showcase the very best of regional Queensland for years to come."
/Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).View in full here.
