It all began in 1985...
In 1985, the visionary entrepreneur and adventurer, Dick Smith, spearheaded an extraordinary endeavour known as the Variety Bash. With a group of daring motorists, he embarked on a remarkable journey from Bourke, New South Wales, all the way to Bourketown, Queensland. Their chosen mode of transport? Old cars with a rich history. Little did they know that this adventure would not only forge lasting memories but also raise an astounding $250,000 for charitable causes.
Dick Smith, a man who effortlessly traversed different social circles, brought together a diverse range of friends for this remarkable event. From wealthy magnates to everyday strugglers, the Variety Bash became a symbol of unity and equality. Aptly described as "a drive in the outback with a few mates," the event was meticulously designed to ensure a level playing field for all participants. Every vehicle had to be over 30 years old and remain unaltered in terms of performance, a principle that continues to define the essence of the Variety Bash today.
In 1991, the Variety Victoria Bash was born!
In the wake of New South Wales' remarkable success, the concept of the Variety Bash quickly spread across Australia, prompting each state to organise their own unique event. In 1991, the spirited individuals of Variety Victoria embarked on their inaugural Bash, an adventure fueled by passion and camaraderie. Spanning an impressive distance of 3,550 kilometers from Melbourne to Uluru, this journey, aptly named "Heart to Heart," featured a convoy of 27 cars dedicated to the cause. The event proved to be a resounding triumph, raising $20,000 for kids in need. What's truly remarkable is that even after all these years, three of the original participants from that first Variety Vic Bash are still actively involved in this incredible annual tradition!
We've been everywhere, man!
The Variety Vic Bash sees entrants explore a diverse range of locations and visit beloved towns and destinations every year. From picturesque coastal towns to charming outback communities, each trip offers a unique experience and showcases the beauty and diversity of our beautiful country. Since the Variety Victoria Bash began, we've travelled more than 123,110 kilometres and raised over $30 Million for kids in need!
Here's a look at where we've been so far...
1991: Heart to Heart
3,550 kms | 27 Cars | $20,000
Melbourne, Broken Hill, Tibooburra, Arkaroola, Wilpena Pound, Roxby Downs, Coober Pedy, Oodnadatta, Erldunda, Uluru
1992: Melbourne to Swan Hill
3,180 kms | 35 Cars | $125,000
Doncaster, Mansfield, Maffra, Dartmouth, Deniliquin, Hillston, Mildura, Swan Hill
1993: Melbourne to Ballarat
3,632 kms | 34 Cars | $90,000
Melbourne, Torquay, Warrnambool, Mt Gambier, Robe, Renmark, Nuriootpa, Horsham, Ballarat
1994: Melbourne to Echuca
Eastland Shopping Centre, Cowes, Traralgon, Lakes Entrance, Jindabyne, Eden, Narooma, Cooma, Bright, Echuca
3,255 kms | 23 Cars | $80,000
1995: Richmond to Reef
4,415 kms | 50 Cars | $250,000
Melbourne, Mildura, Tibooburra, Birdsville, Mt Isa, Burketown, Georgetown, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef
1996: Chadstone to Kakadu
5,419 kms | 68 Cars | $360,000
Melbourne, Deniliquin, Cobar, Quilpie, Longreach, Cloncurry, Barkly Homestead, Daly Waters, Victoria River Crossing, Katherine, Darwin
1997: Hawthorn to Hunter
3,247 kms | 35 Cars | $180,000
Melbourne, Spirit of Tasmania, Strahan, Hobart, Launceston, Spirit of Tasmania, Tumut, Katoomba, Muswellbrook, Coffs Harbour
1998: Burnley to Broome
5,203 kms | 78 Cars | $420,000
Melbourne, Murrayville, Hawker, Coober Pedy, Ross River, Tilmouth Roadhouse, Halls Creek, El Questro, Mt Barnett, Broome
1999: Albert to Airlie
3,794 kms | 73 Cars | $520,000
Melbourne, Swan Hill, Menindee, Tibooburra, Innamincka, Windorah, Blackall, Capella, Airlie Beach
2000: Docklands to Kalgoorlie
3,699 kms | 63 Cars | $460,000
Melbourne, Ouyen, Tanunda, El Alamein, Ceduna, Eucla, Madura, Esperance, Norseman, Kalgoorlie
2001: Dockside to Surfside
3,777 kms | 98 Cars | $750,000
Melbourne, Charlton, Morgan, Arkaroola, Innamincka, Thargomindah, St George, Tenterfield, Tweed Heads, Surfers Paradise
2002: Albert to Alice
3,535 kms | 112 Cars | $1,000,000
Melbourne, Mildura, Tibooburra, Arkaroola, Roxby Downs, Coober Pedy, Cadney Homestead, Kulgera, Alice Springs
2003: Melbourne to Mission
4,140 kms | 118 Cars | $1,250,000
Melbourne, Warracknabeal, Peterborough, Parachilna, Birdsville, Longreach, Charters Towers, Ingham, Mission Beach
2004: Melbourne to Darwin
5,176 kms | 120 Cars | $1,385,000
Melbourne, Yarrawonga, Bourke, Charleville, Barcaldine, Winton, Mt Isa, Tennant Creek, Mataranka, Katherine, Darwin
2005: Geelong to Caloundra
3,771 kms | 124 Cars | $1,390,000
Melbourne, Warrnambool, Naracoorte, Adelaide, Mildura, Cobar, Moree, Roma, Dalby, Caloundra
2006: Melbourne to Cairns
4,791 kms | 127 Cars | $1,460,000
Bulleen, Albury, Bathurst, Inverell, Gympie, Bundaberg, Yeppoon, Bowen, Ingham, Atherton, Cairns
2007: Melbourne to Byron Bay
3,794 kms | 90 Cars | $1,390,000
Melbourne, Nhill, Swan Hill, Broken Hill, Tibooburra, Cobar, Lighting Ridge, Tamworth, Casino, Byron Bay
2008: Melbourne to Yepoon
3,508 kms | 92 Cars | $1,340,000
Melbourne, Corowa, Nyngan, Moree, Charleville, Barcaldine, Emerald, Yeppoon
2009: Bendigo to Alice Springs
3,395 kms | 97 Cars | $1,350,000
Bendigo, Wentworth, Clare, Wilpena Pound, Glendambo, Coober Pedy, Erldunda, Ayers Rock, Alice Springs
2010: Ballarat to Margaret River
4,900 kms | 95 Cars | $1,300,000
Ballarat, Mount Gambier, Tanunda, Quorn, Streaky Bay, Eucla, Esperance, Kalgoorlie, Albany, Margaret River
2011: Bash Across Bass Strait
3,131 kms | 75 Cars | $1,150,000
Melbourne, Warragul, Port Melbourne, Devonport, Stanley, Smithton, Strahan, Hobart, Freycinet, Launceston, Devonport
2012: Shepparton to Hamilton Isl
4,608 kms | 83 Cars | $1,250,000
Shepparton, Deniliquin, Broken Hill, Marree, Birdsville, Mt Isa, Richmond, Charters Towers, Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island
2013: Echuca to Broome
5,252 kms| 83 Cars | $1,460,000
Echuca, Cobar, Quilpie, Winton, Burketown, Borroloola, Top Springs, Kununurra, Home Valley, Mt Barnett, Broome
2014: Melbourne to Noosa
3,138 kms | 67 Cars | $1,210,000
Melbourne, Wangaratta, Corryong, Bowral, Sydney, Singleton, Armidale, Tenterfield, Kingaroy, Noosa
2015: Melbourne to Port Douglas
4,567 kms | 83 Cars | $1,540,000
Melbourne, Wagga Wagga, Coonabarabran, St George, Charleville, Longreach, Hughenden, Cobbold Gorge, Cooktown, Port Douglas
2016: Melbourne to Darwin
4,694 kms | 67 Cars | $1,286,000
Melbourne, Mildura, Wilpena Pound, Coober Pedy, Erldunda, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine, Darwin
2017: Melbourne to Fraser Island
3,233 kms | 67 Cars | $1,310,000
Melbourne, Traralgon, Lakes Entrance, Narooma, Canberra, Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Toowoomba, Fraser Island
2018: Geelong to Townsville
4,098 kms | 85 Cars | $1,720,000
Geelong, Horsham, Swan Hill, Broken Hill, Silverton, Tibooburra, Cunnamulla, Emerald, Charter Towers, Townsville
2019: Melbourne to Geraldton
5,102 kms | 92 Cars | $1,884,539
Melbourne, Warrnambool, Hahndorf, Whyalla, Ceduna, Madura, Kalgoorlie, Leonora, Mount Magnet, Geraldton
2022: Melbourne to Cairns
5,106 kms | 100 Cars | $1,900,000
Melbourne, Beechworth, Cobar, Broken Hill, Marree, Birdsville, Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Karumba, Artherton, Cairns
2023: Melbourne to Gold Coast
3,703 kms | 89 Cars | $1,400,000
Melbourne, Phillip Island, Benalla, Shepparton, Yass, Dubbo, Nelson Bay, Coffs Harbour, Gold Coast
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