Isa Rodeo - Voluntary Administration

Isa Rodeo, the company behind Queensland’s iconic Mount Isa Rodeo and Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships, entered voluntary administration on 21 October.

The Mount Isa Rodeo is one of Australia’s longest-running events, having attracted cowboys and cowgirls from around the world for the past 65 years. The event is the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and is critical to the local economy, reportedly generating $7.4 million and attracting about 25,000 visitors to Mount Isa each year, roughly the same as the number of people who live in the area.

The company managed to survive COVID by running a virtual rodeo but has struggled to cut costs in the post-pandemic period.

Michael Brennan and David Stimpson of SV Partners were appointed voluntary administrators and said that they are considering all possible options, including restructuring, streamlining, or selling the business, to save the rodeo.