Community
26 April, 2024
Welcome to Warrnambool
Welcome to May race week and if you’ve travelled to be here, a very warm welcome to Warrnambool!
The May Racing Carnival is a truly iconic event that puts Warrnambool on the map.
Often when I meet people who aren’t from the area and I tell them I’m from Warrnambool, it’s one of the things people from all over can associate with the city.
And it’s for good reason. It’s one of the biggest events on the Australian horse racing calendar.
Last year the event saw an attendance of almost 30,000 over the three days, including almost 14,000 on the Thursday for the Grand Annual.
And with many of these people travelling from far and wide to attend, it’s obviously great news for our local economy.
With people staying for multiple nights, it gives Warrnambool the chance to showcase its diverse and delectable range of cafes and restaurants, as well as various retailers and other services.
And of course, it’s an especially busy time for accommodation providers.
As a traditional summer destination, hosting a major event like this outside of our peak season is really important.
In addition to the significant economic boost (the carnival injects as much as $15 million into the local economy) it’s an excellent opportunity to market Warrnambool as a year-round destination.
Natural attributes like Lady Bay, Thunder Point, the Merri and Hopkins rivers as well as nearby spots like Tower Hill and Childers Cove can be enjoyed at any time of year.
And with winter approaching, our largest annual visitors, the Southern Right Whales, are preparing to return to the Logans Beach Whale Nursery to birth and raise their calves.
Add in attractions like Flagstaff Hill, Lake Pertobe and the Deep Blue Hot Springs and you can see why Warrnambool makes such an appealing location for a holiday, and council will have a marketing presence at the races to demonstrate what Warrnambool can offer.
There’s nothing quite like the May Racing Carnival, and there’s nowhere quite like Warrnambool, and I hope everyone in attendance has a wonderful time.
Cr Ben Blain
Mayor
Warrnambool City Council
