Program overview
The $10 million Building Bush Tourism (BBT) Fund provides financial support to eligible Queensland tourism operators, not-for-profit organisations and local governments to deliver new or enhanced tourism related infrastructure, or improve amenity and/or accessibility of social, community and tourism infrastructure or experiences, and will attract and grow both regional participation and visitors to the region.
Successful applicants
| Name | Project description | RTO | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1770 Sunset Cruises | Agnes Adventures – immersive trails. Technological overlay for virtual and augmented reality experiences and connect the different walking trails with other cultural and historical assets in a quest-like experience | Gladstone Area Promotion & Development Ltd | Agnes Water |
| Australian Age of Dinosaurs | Shadows of Gondwana – sustainable evening entertainment experience offering a multi-sensory exploration of Australia’s Cretaceous Period | Outback Queensland Tourism Association | Winton |
| Ballandean Estate Wines | 5 Wine Domes and Event Space for events and cultural activities | Southern Queensland Country Tourism | Ballandean |
| Balonne Shire Council | Hebel Township – construction of footpaths, installation of picnic shelters and BBQ, footpath connecting campgrounds to CBD area, installation of irrigation systems and trees at campgrounds | Outback Queensland Tourism Association | Hebel |
| Barambah Bush Caravan Park | Upgrading communal camp kitchen to improve inclusivity and accessibility | Southern Queensland Country Tourism | Murgon |
| Barcoo Shire Council | Jundah Racecourse – installation of ablution block to enhance tourism-related infrastructure | Outback Queensland Tourism Association | Jundah |
| Bents Road Winery | School of Wine and Spirits – immersive educational hub | Southern Queensland Country Tourism | Ballandean |
| Bundaberg Regional Council | Bundaberg Regional Aquatic Centre – supply and installation of accessible pedestrian barriers to improve entry and exit of facility | Bundaberg Tourism | Bundaberg |
| Bundaberg Regional Council | The Bundaberg Recreational Precinct – infrastructure upgrade to create an environmentally conscious major events space | Bundaberg Tourism | Branyan |
| Bundaberg Regional Council | Hinkler Hall of Aviation – upgrade exhibits with new interactive digital technology | Bundaberg Tourism | Bundaberg |
| Burke Shire Council | Burketown Wharf Recreational Precinct Footpath – improve accessibility for residents and tourists | Tourism Tropical North Queensland | Burketown |
| Cairns Aquarium and Reef Research Centre | Riversleigh Fossil Trail – a 25 metre long, recreated limestone cave filled with life-sized fossil replicas of key extinct animals that once lived in North Western Queensland during the Jurassic period | Tourism Tropical North Queensland | Cairns |
| Cairns Koalas and Creatures | Water focused Environmental Science Centre – exhibition space and signage. Includes educational activities and demonstrations around water motion, pumping and power stations | Tourism Tropical North Queensland | Cairns |
| Cape Weymouth Camping and Cabins | Three luxury safari tents to expand accommodation options for visitors to the region | Tourism Tropical North Queensland | Iron Range, Cape York |
| Capricorn Caverns | Build elevated walkway and high ropes course outside of the Capricorn Caves | Capricorn Enterprise | The Caves |
| Carpentaria Shire Council | School Dam Shelters – enhance amenity of area to include 2 parkland shelters and 2 lookout point bird hides | Tourism Tropical North Queensland | Normanton |
| Central Highlands Regional Council | Development of a Geo Trail centred around the Emerald Visitor Information Centre to connect and update existing infrastructure on the Sapphire Gemfields Interpretive Trail and Dig the Tropic Trail | Southern Queensland Country Tourism | Emerald |
| Central West Aboriginal Corporation | Spirit Place and Silver Lining Studio upgrades. Includes commercial kitchen and space for events and cultural activities | Outback Queensland Tourism Association | Barcaldine |
| Charleys Creek Camping | Construction of livestock/entertainment arena to increase visitation, host local charity events and provide a platform for equine healing therapy | Southern Queensland Country Tourism | Chinchilla |
| Charlotte Plains Pastoral Co | Shallow hot pool, upgrade campsite amenities, construction of kitchen, bathing hut, and solar system | Outback Queensland Tourism Association | Cunnamulla |
| Cherbourg Historical Precinct Group | The Ration Shed Museum – expansion of exhibition space and improving standard of gallery to support and improve the immersive cultural experience | Southern Queensland Country Tourism | Cherbourg |
| Creative Country Association Inc | 55 Million Years Ago Fossil Museum – new infrastructure to extend and enhance a more immersive experience, including new digital displays, and education | Southern Queensland Country Tourism | Murgon |
| Cunnamulla Hot Springs | Cunnamulla Hot Springs and Theatre – Arts Activation – main hall, stage and recording studio booth lighting, projectors and speakers | Outback Queensland Tourism Association | Cunnamulla |
| Darling Downs Zoo | Pave pathways throughout zoo to improve accessibility | Southern Queensland Country Tourism | Pilton |
| Diamondvale Estate | Diamondvale Estate, Pioneer Hut – extension and additional facilities, including accessibility pathways | Southern Queensland Country Tourism | Diamondvale |
| Drovers Camp Association Inc | Drovers Heritage Centre / Museum – transforming the outside of museum into a monument with historic murals depicting the lives of drovers | Outback Queensland Tourism Association | Camooweal |
| Gangalidda and Garawa Native Title Aboriginal Corporation RTNBC | Increase tourism accommodation – 3 x 2-bedroom relocatable homes | Tourism Tropical North Queensland | Burketown |
| Gladstone Amateur Basketball Association Inc | Kev Broome Stadium – new stadium flooring to regional and national standards to enable hosting higher level sporting events | Gladstone Area Promotion & Development Ltd | Gladstone |
| Goondiwindi Pastoral and Agricultural Society | Goondiwindi Showgrounds – installation of laundry facilities to support increased capacity for camping/caravaning, improvement of facilities will also benefit major community events | Southern Queensland Country Tourism | Goondiwindi |
| Goondiwindi Race Club | Installation of permanent stage with roof and enclosed sites, including accessible pathway; increasing capacity to host large events | Southern Queensland Country Tourism | Goondiwindi |
| Hartleys Creek Crocodile Farming Company | Crocwise Interpretive Centre – immersive journey covering evolution of crocodiles, First Nations perspectives, transformation of crocodile hunters into conservationists, and history of Hartleys. Includes promoting safety in Croc Country | Tourism Tropical North Queensland | Wangetti |
| Hedlow Retreat | Stage 1 – infrastructure upgrades including increasing capacity for weddings, functions and events, and improve access for water activities | Capricorn Enterprise | Barmoya |
| Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC | Wawu Dimbi Eco-Cultural Tourism Bush Camp – includes bush shelter with fire pit and deck, kitchen area with BBQ and water tanks, 2 compost toilets and showers | Tourism Tropical North Queensland | Daintree |
| Longreach Regional Council | Ilfracombe Rest Facilities upgrade of public amenities and rest stop | Outback Queensland Tourism Association | Ilfracombe |
| Maranoa Regional Council | Refurbishment of the historical Yuleba Fire Tower Cabin, including signage to illustrate local stories | Outback Queensland Tourism Association | Yuleba |
| Mareeba Bush Stays | Addition of 4 eco tents increasing visitor capacity | Tourism Tropical North Queensland | Chewko |
| Mareeba Shire Council | Lighting Up Kuranda – improved lighting, landscaping, and inclusive accessibility to main streets of Kuranda | Tourism Tropical North Queensland | Kuranda |
| Miles & District Historical Society Inc | Great Artesian Basin Centre – building expansion and installation of interpretative experience relating to First Nations People | Southern Queensland Country Tourism | Miles |
| Mount Isa City Council Owned Enterprises Pty Ltd | Indigenous art gallery within Outback at Isa | Outback Queensland Tourism Association | Mount Isa |
| Murweh Shire Council | Charleville Cosmos Centre facility upgrade and enhancement | Outback Queensland Tourism Association | Charleville |
| Out The Back Australia Pty Ltd | Club Boutique Hotel – new infrastructure to increase accommodation, including ensuite cabins and hotel room with accessible ensuite | Outback Queensland Tourism Association | Cunnamulla |
| Outback Gondwana Foundation Ltd | Eromanga Natural History Museum – construction of children’s dig pit, including 3D-printed replicas from the museum’s fossil collection | Outback Queensland Tourism Association | Eromanga |
| Quilpie Shire Council | Quilpie Visitor Information Centre, Museum and Gallery – construction of new undercover entertainment area and improvements to museum entry to provide disability accessibility for visitors with mobility concerns | Outback Queensland Tourism Association | Quilpie |
| Riverbank Glamping | Self-contained private safari style tent, including elevated deck with outdoor bathtub, kitchen and bathroom | Southern Queensland Country Tourism | Boonarga |
| Rossville Retreat | Expanding facilities to increase onsite camping capacity, establishment of Indigenous Immersion experience, incorporating accessibility measures and cultural information | Tourism Tropical North Queensland | Rossville |
| Sancerra Estate | Grape to Class Centre including Wine Tasting Room and demonstration wine make space, accessible bathroom and carparking | Southern Queensland Country Tourism | Ballandean |
| Smithco Management Pty Ltd | Gidgee’s Bush Camp – installation of bore in bush campgrounds equipped with solar pump system | Outback Queensland Tourism Association | Morven |
| Southern Downs Steam Railway Association Inc | Warwick Railway Station redevelopment – establish visitor centre within station, cafe, steam rail tour base, ballroom renovation and events space in courtyard | Southern Queensland Country Tourism | Warwick |
| Thallon Progress Association Inc | Thallon Rail Interpretative Centre – exhibition space on town's rail history | Outback Queensland Tourism Association | Thallon |
| The Crackup Sisters Pty Ltd | Crackup Corner – transform outdoor stage into weatherproof amphitheatre, including augmented sound equipment | Outback Queensland Tourism Association | Winton |
| The Dusty Chook | Multi-purpose function facility including amenities | Southern Queensland Country Tourism | Chinchilla |
| The Lake Quilpie | New amenities block, expanding facilities to support increased visitation with disabled accessibility | Outback Queensland Tourism Association | Quilpie |
| The Canopy Treehouses | Repurpose existing infrastructure to reception, event and wellness spaces | Tourism Tropical North Queensland | Tarzali |
| Toobeah Coronation Hotel | Construction of swimming pool, spa, storage facilities and entertainment area adjacent to powered caravan sites | Southern Queensland Country Tourism | Toobeah |
| Trinity Islands Holiday Park | Develop campgrounds with environmentally sustainable infrastructure | Fraser Coast Tourism and Events | Burrum River |
| Wake House Australia | Wakeboarding Facility – installation of additional features at Mackay Park wakeboarding facility to increase hosting of national competitions | Mackay Isaac Tourism Ltd | Mackay |
| Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council | Wujal Wujal Cultural and Heritage Walking Trail – construction of trail with signage | Tourism Tropical North Queensland | Wujal Wujal |