Media Contact: Should you require further information please contact the Casterton Kelpie Association at 0417 527 200 or email: president@castertonkelpieassociation.com.au
Media Releases
Australian Kelpie Muster named National Nominee in four Australian Event Award categories
Casterton’s iconic Australian Kelpie Muster has earned national recognition, securing an extraordinary four National Nominee positions in the 2026 Australian Event Awards.
The 30th Australian Kelpie Muster and Australia’s Premier Working Dog Auction, held in Casterton in June 2026, has been named a National Nominee in:
- Oztix Best Small Regional Event
- Oztix Best Tourism Event
- Best Community Event
- Best Association Event
The recognition follows the Muster being named Glenelg Shire Tourism Event of the Year in 2025 and marks another significant achievement for an event built by the Casterton community over three decades.
“To see Casterton and the Australian Kelpie Muster recognised nationally across four very different categories is something our whole community can be proud of.
“The Muster has always been about more than an event. It celebrates the Australian Kelpie, our agricultural heritage and the people of our region, while bringing visitors from across Australia to Casterton.
“Reaching our 30th year was already a significant milestone. To now have that year recognised at a national level is a wonderful acknowledgement of everyone who has contributed to the Muster over the past three decades.”
Thirty Years, One Town, Countless Kelpies: Casterton Celebrates Milestone Muster
The 30th Australian Kelpie Muster has celebrated 30 years of community pride, working dog tradition and Kelpie spirit, bringing fine weather, strong crowds and competitors from across Australia to Casterton over the King’s Birthday Long Weekend.
The 2026 event marked three decades of Casterton’s proud connection with the Australian Kelpie and Australia’s Premier Working Dog Auction. What began around the Casterton saleyards has grown into a nationally recognised celebration of the breed, the town and the volunteers who have carried the event forward.
Casterton Kelpie Association President Karen Stephens said the milestone weekend was a chance to honour the people, dogs and stories that have shaped the event.
“The 30th Australian Kelpie Muster has been everything we hoped it would be,” Mrs Stephens said.
“To see fantastic crowd numbers, familiar faces returning, new entrants joining us and the whole town coming alive again was incredibly special. This event belongs to the community, the competitors, the vendors, the volunteers, the visitors and, of course, the Kelpies.”
Fine Weather, Fantastic Crowds and 30 Years of Kelpie Spirit Shine in Casterton
The 30th Australian Kelpie Muster has delivered a milestone celebration worthy of three decades of community pride, working dog tradition and national recognition, with fine weather, fantastic crowd numbers and a strong mix of new and returning entrants across both the Australian Kelpie Muster and Australia’s Premier Working Dog Auction.
Held in Casterton over the King’s Birthday Long Weekend, the 30th anniversary event brought together locals, visitors, competitors, vendors, volunteers and working dog enthusiasts from across Australia to celebrate the birthplace of the Kelpie and the enduring importance of the breed to rural life.
After last year’s rain-soaked display of resilience, the 2026 event was greeted with fine conditions, setting the stage for a vibrant weekend of competition, connection and celebration.
“The 30th year of the Australian Kelpie Muster has been everything we hoped it would be,” said Casterton Kelpie Association President Karen Stephens.
Kelpie Storytellers and Working Dog Leaders to Headline 30th Australian Kelpie Muster
The 30th Australian Kelpie Muster and Australia’s Premier Working Dog Auction will welcome two respected national voices of the Australian working dog world this June, with acclaimed rural author Rachael Treasure and ABC Muster Dogs breeder Joe Spicer confirmed as special guests.
Held across the King’s Birthday long weekend from 6–8 June in Casterton, the milestone event will celebrate three decades of recognising the Australian Kelpie, its history, and the people who continue to shape the working dog industry.
Well known for her bestselling novel The Stockmen and her long connection to the Kelpie community, Rachael Treasure said returning to Casterton for the 30th celebrations held special significance.
““There’s something very special about Casterton and the 30-year milestone. It shows a cohesive community spirit and a strong love of the Kelpie dog,” Ms Treasure said.
YOUR YEAR TO VOLUNTEER AT THE 30th MUSTER & AUCTION
As Australia marks National Volunteer Week 2026, the Casterton Kelpie Association is celebrating the volunteers who help bring one of the region’s most iconic events to life — and inviting more people to be part of the milestone 30th Australian Kelpie Muster and Australian Premier Working Dog Auction.
National Volunteer Week runs from 18–24 May 2026, with this year’s theme, Your Year to Volunteer, encouraging Australians to give their time in ways that create connection, purpose and lasting community impact.
Casterton Kelpie Association President Karen Stephens said volunteers remain at the heart of the Muster’s success.
“As we celebrate our 30th year, it is especially important to recognise the people, community groups and local organisations who have helped build this event into what it is today. ” she said.
Strong demand expected as Casterton marks 30 years of Australia’s premier working dog auction
Entries closing soon, with interstate buyers and online bidding set to drive competition as producers turn dog training into a valuable income stream.
Casterton, the recognised birthplace of the Australian Kelpie, is preparing to host a landmark event as entries for the 30th Australian Premier Working Dog Auction close 1 May.
Held as part of the annual Australian Kelpie Muster over the King’s Birthday long weekend, the auction continues to attract strong national attention, with buyers and sellers travelling from across the country — and increasingly bidding online — to secure some of Australia’s best working dogs.
The auction committee is currently finalising several final lots, as the first rain for the season hits Victoria’s South West — a timely boost for producers and a positive sign leading into the event.
“Last year’s auction showed that demand for quality working dogs remains strong across the country,” Casterton Kelpie Association President Karen Stephens said.
“Casterton continues to bring together the best dogs, the best handlers and a national buying audience — whether they’re ringside or online.”
“The auction has a dog for everybody — we sell young started pups, right through to fully trained dogs,” she said.
CKA Celebrates Surprise Win at Glenelg Shire Business and Tourism Awards
The Casterton Kelpie Association has been recognised with one of the region’s top honours, taking out the Tourism Event, Festival or Tourist Attraction of the Year 2025, proudly sponsored by Portland Signworks, at the Glenelg Shire Business and Tourism Awards.
The prestigious Gala Awards Night was held on Friday 15 August, where 25 finalists across eight business and tourism categories and two individual awards gathered to celebrate excellence and innovation. Hosted by beloved Australian comedian and radio presenter Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann, the evening featured entertainment from the acclaimed Orlando Combo Jazz Band and highlighted the strength and diversity of Glenelg Shire’s business and tourism sector.
“This volunteer-run event was established by the Casterton Apex Club almost 30 years ago, and each year is supported tirelessly by a large army of volunteers. It is extraordinary to see the Kelpie celebrated both here in Casterton and by people travelling from across Australia and around the world.”
Resilience Shines
At the 29th Australian Kelpie Muster
Despite over 40mm of rain soaking the region, the 29th Australian Kelpie Muster proved a powerful display of resilience, community spirit and celebration in Casterton this King’s Birthday Long Weekend.
Against a backdrop of much-needed drought-breaking rain, attendees, competitors, and volunteers came together to deliver a vibrant and unforgettable event, true to the nature of the Australian Kelpie.
Blue skies greeted early crowds on Saturday morning for the annual street parade, before grey clouds rolled in, bringing with them water relief and welcome laughter. Undeterred, locals and visitors embraced the weather with a smile, united in their support for the farming community and the working dog that continues to inspire them.
“The spirit shown by everyone this weekend was extraordinary,” said Association President Karen Stephens. “Despite the rain, our crowds turned out in force, our volunteers didn’t miss a beat, and our competitors showcased the best of the Kelpie working dog ability and community pride.”
Experience the Kelpie Muster First Hand
Read an attendee review, Kelpie weekend is worth the distance
The Casterton Muster Weekend is like watching a live jigsaw become complete.
The whole Casterton community of organisers, volunteers, breeders, owners and onlookers pull together to create a fantastic event in one action-packed weekend. And then, there’s the KELPIES.
The intelligent “let’s get to work now” dogs, the cute little pups that are not sure what to do, the high jumpers, the sprinters, the obedient dogs, and the “I’m just here to have fun” dogs that want to race up THAT HILL.
Muster Dogs’ Kim Dodson and Banjo
to Join the 29th Australian Kelpie Muster in Casterton
Casterton, VIC – The Australian Kelpie Muster is thrilled to welcome Kim Dodson and her beloved Kelpie, Banjo, stars of ABC TV’s Muster Dogs Season 3, as special guests at this year’s 29th annual event in Casterton this June long weekend.
“It’s such a privilege to be part of the Muster. I’ve been before and loved it—it’s such a fun festival full of people who share the same passion for the breed. Banjo’s looking forward to all the pats and probably licking everyone too—he still hasn’t grown out of that!”
Get Your Boots Dirty and Join the Casterton Kelpie Association!
Celebrating National Volunteer Week:
As National Volunteer Week (May 19-25, 2025) approaches, the Casterton Kelpie Association is taking the opportunity to celebrate the vital contributions of volunteers and encourage more people to get involved in the upcoming Australian Kelpie Muster and Australia’s Premier Working Dog Auction. The event, a cherished icon of Australian culture, relies heavily on the generosity of volunteers to continue its success year after year.
“We’re calling on individuals, families, and community groups across the region to roll up their sleeves and volunteer for the Australian Kelpie Muster and Australia’s Premier Working Dog Auction,” said Karen Stephens, President of the Casterton Kelpie Association.
Kelpie Legacy: Uniting a Nation’s Heritage
29th Australian Kelpie Muster and Premier Working Dog Auction!
The Casterton Kelpie Association is delighted to announce the 29th Australian Kelpie Muster, slated for the June long weekend (7 to 9), 2025. This year’s theme, “Kelpie Legacy: Uniting a Nation’s Heritage,” spotlights the profound significance of the Australian Kelpie in our nation’s history and the muster’s growing national appeal.
The Australian Kelpie Muster has been a cherished tradition in our community for nearly thirty years. The theme for 2025 underscores the commitment to honouring the invaluable contributions of the Kelpie breed. Known for their intelligence, agility, and loyalty, these remarkable dogs have been instrumental in shaping Australia’s agricultural heritage. This year’s muster serves as a heartfelt tribute to the enduring legacy of Kelpies and their pivotal role in our farming communities.
RECORD-BREAKING ACHIEVEMENTS:
Thousands gather in Casterton to celebrate the Australian kelpie!
Reaching a record-breaking $4million going under the hammer at Island Park across the 28-year period. Auction regular and renowned trainer Paul Macphail took home the triple crown, selling the $4 million dog, top-priced pup and top-priced dog.
Selling a million dollars of dogs in four auctions, the Casterton Kelpie Association President said it was mind-blowing to think that after 254 years, the auction finally hit $3 million in sales but just three years later saw another million dollars in return.
YOUNG HEARTS, FLEET PAWS:
KATE HENRY’S JOURNEY TO THE KELPIE MUSTER
AT JUST 11 years old, Kate Henry and her Kelpie, Kanika Croc, embody youthful enthusiasm and the close bonds between young handlers and their canine partners.
As they gear up for the 28th Eukanuba Australian Kelpie Muster, we delve into their story, which may inspire teenagers like Kate to take on the challenge.
For years, the Henry family has been a staple at the Casterton Kelpie Association, with involvement spanning from participating in auctions to volunteering on auction days for the local Polocrosse club. Kate has even made and sold dog treats with her school friend Ruby and taken home first place in the Junior Photo Competition.
UNLEASHING SUCCESS:
CASTERTON’S WORKING DOG AUCTIONEER, JAMES TIERNEY, IS RECOGNISED AS ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S TOP 20 AUCTIONEERS!
CASTERTON’S annual Working Dog Auction, a renowned event uniting farmers and enthusiasts nationwide, shines with James Tierney, recently ranked among Australia’s top 20 auctioneers.
Casterton born Tierney, grew up among working dogs, instilling in him a deep respect for their role in farming.
HISTORY IN THE MAKING:
AUCTION POISED TO SMASH RECORDS!
The Casterton Kelpie Association is gearing up for what promises to be an extraordinary Eukanuba Australian Kelpie Muster and Premier Working Dog Auction.
This year’s event is set to be record-breaking, with the association poised to crack the remarkable $4 million mark at the 28th annual Australian Premier Working Dog Auction.