The magic of the Cup heads to outback Queensland

Normanton may be a speck on the map – about 700 kilometres west of Cairns and a seven-hour drive from Cloncurry – but it’s a town rich in character, history and pride. Set along the Norman River near the Gulf of Carpentaria, this small township of 1,300 people welcomed the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour with open arms.

The timing couldn’t have been better. The Cup’s arrival coincided with the State of Origin decider – a high point on Queensland’s sporting calendar – creating a lively, communal atmosphere. At The Purple Pub, locals cheered alongside racing royalty as Glen Boss, three-time Melbourne Cup-winning jockey and tour ambassador, joined the crowd to watch the match and talk racing.

This year marks 20 years since Boss completed his historic third win aboard the legendary mare Makybe Diva, and he made a fitting entrance – arriving aboard the iconic Gulflander train, which still runs between Normanton Station and Critters Camp.

On Friday 11 July, the 18-carat gold trophy visited Lotus Vale Station, one of four properties that make up Gulf Coast Agricultural Company. The next day, the Normanton Rodeo Grounds hosted a community celebration featuring sprint races, campdrafting and mini bull rides – a nod to the town’s proud equine culture. That legacy lives on each June at the Normanton Rodeo and Campdraft, and again at the annual Normanton Sprint Races, held in August/September.

In a town where services are stretched across vast distances, it was fitting that Normanton chose the Royal Flying Doctor Service as its charity for the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour National Sweep. If the town draws the winning barrier for this year’s Cup, it will receive $50,000 to support the RFDS – a vital lifeline for communities across the region.

During the visit, the Cup was welcomed at the local airport by pilots, emergency responders and police, the very people who help keep remote towns like Normanton running. It was a moment that acknowledged the essential, often unsung roles that hold the community together.

The Cup also made time for a few local sights, including an appearance at the town’s most recognisable photo spot – in the jaws of the massive replica of Krys the Savannah King, the largest recorded saltwater crocodile ever caught.

Following its visit to Normanton, the People’s Cup has now headed to Cairns (15–16 July), where it will take in the rainforest surrounds of Kuranda. Accompanying the trophy is the familiar voice of racing, Greg Miles, who famously called home many of the sport’s greatest moments. From there, the Tour travels to Sydney (22–24 July), followed by community events in Avoca and Murrumbateman.

Did you know?

Now in its 23rd year, the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour has travelled more than one million kilometres, visiting over 670 destinations – including 490 schools and 422 hospitals or aged-care facilities across Australia. The trophy itself is made from 18-carat Australian gold, weighs 3.9 kilograms, takes around 250 hours to handcraft, and is valued at $850,000 – making it one of the most prized trophies in world sport.

For more information about the Tour and its destinations, visit vrc.com.au