The Queensland Government has locked in funding support for the Gympie Music Muster through to 2029 to bolster up its mission to be recognised as national events capital.
Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said, "The Gympie Music Muster is a Queensland icon, and we're making sure it stays that way.
"Through Destination 2045, we're investing in the events, experiences and destinations that keep Queensland firmly on the map as Australia's events capital.
"The Muster puts heads in beds, supports local jobs and businesses, and brings visitors from across Australia into the heart of regional Queensland, delivering lasting benefits long after the final encore."
The news was delivered after over 60,000 frolicked in the sun at the 50-hectare Amamoor Creek State Forest between August 27 and 30 to see 140 acts over nine stages.
They caught sets by Lee Kernaghan, Beccy Cole, Amber Lawrence, The Wolfe Brothers, Davisson Brothers Band, Felicity Urquhart, Taylor Moss, James Johnston, Larry Fleet, and James Blundell, among others, and indulged in activities including bush poetry, rodeos and line dancing.
The not-for-profit festival, which started in 1982, is expected to deliver 220,000 visitor nights and inject more than $51 million into the Queensland economy across the three-year period.
Gympie Music Muster CEO Greg Cavanagh commented, “This commitment provides certainty not just for our event, but for the community groups, artists and local businesses who make the Muster what it is.”
“We are proud to deliver strong tourism outcomes for Queensland, and this extension through to 2029 recognises the cultural, community and economic value the Muster generates year after year.
“It strengthens our shared vision for showcasing regional Queensland at its very best.”
The average age of a Muster attendee is 43, mostly regional white collar workers, and skewed towards females (55:45) who tend to attend in groups. There’s been a strong rise in the under-25 demo.
Tourism
It is estimated around 16,000 to 20,000 of the Muster audience comes from outside Queensland – some from as far as New Zealand and Western Australia – and reflects the strong tourism pull of Australia’s major country music festivals.
According to the Country Music Association of Australia, 137 dedicated country music festivals draw a total of 684,000 a year. They generate $54.5 million in ticket sales and inject an estimated $140 million into regional businesses.
One third of the 300,000 who attend the Tamworth Country Music are from outside NSW. The figure is 60% of the 18,000 roll-up for the Deni Muster. Queensland’s Groundwater reckons 68% of its crowd are out-of-towners.
Member for Gympie Tony Perrett detailed the wider impact of the extended partnership.
"The Gympie Music Muster is part of our region's identity, and this commitment gives organisers, local businesses and volunteers confidence for the years ahead," he explained.
"Every year the Muster welcomes thousands of visitors to our backyard, supporting local accommodation providers, cafes, retailers and tourism operators.
"This commitment means the music will keep playing and the economic benefits will keep flowing across Gympie and the surrounding region."
