Australian Outback Spectacular Opens a New Chapter!

After entertaining more than a million people over three years, the Australian Outback Spectacular has received a makeover. The new show is a tribute to the Heroes of the Light Horse.

Since opening its doors in April 2006, Australian Outback Spectacular has entertained over a million people from all over the world, with its celebration of Australian stock men and women at work and play. The audience learns of their history, marvels at demonstrations of their riding skills, laughs at the gags and enjoys the songs and poems that are not only theirs but ours.

The new show 'Heroes of the Light Horse' will retain all the fun, charm and skill of the original but with an important difference, this time we celebrate the link between our stockmen and the legendary Australian Light Horse.

The new show has been directed by one of Australia's most celebrated film and television directors, Simon Wincer, who is best known for movies, 'The Man from Snowy River', 'The Lighthorsemen', 'Phar Lap' and 'Free Willy'. In Heroes of the Light Horse, Wincer adds a new element to the show by blending extracts from his movie with the live light horse action in the foreground, further enhancing the show and introducing high definition movie vision to all scenes.

Aided by clips from the film, 'The Lighthorsemen', the audience follows Australian troops on the long, dry march to the outskirts of Beersheba in Palestine. Following the march, the audience witnesses the famous charge against entrenched artillery, machine guns and infantry, to take and secure the precious wells of Beersheba.

Back in present day, the Spectacular ends on a lighter note celebrating stockmen's skills, but always aware of the debt all Australians owe to those heroes of the Light Horse.

Warner Village Theme Parks’ principal strategy for Australian Outback Spectacular is to grow tourism to the Gold Coast, which produces positive results for its Gold Coast theme parks and the region generally. Australian Outback Spectacular was created to provide international and domestic visitors a typical Australian experience to learn about Australia and its rich culture and heritage.

Australian Outback Spectacular was originally conceptualized over nine years ago by Chairman of Warner Village Theme Parks and Executive Producer of Australian Outback Spectacular - Mr. John Menzies, who identified the opportunity to promote Australian culture to domestic and international visitors.

"I get a lot of feedback about the show, and the one thing that always stands out is how patriotic and proud the show makes our Australian guests feel about their homeland," Mr. Menzies said.

"It's been an inspiring success, and to keep interest high, we decided to introduce a new chapter in the show, which further enhances our cultural outback heritage by telling the story of one of Australia's least known, but most important historic events - the charge at Beersheba by 800 Australian Light Horsemen during the First World War in 1917," Mr. Menzies explained.

"The Light Horse was made up predominantly by "boys from the bush"; young men from the outback who volunteered along with their horses to join the Australian Mounted Infantry know as the Light Horse."

"The famous charge at Beersheba is regarded as one of the most successful and courageous cavalry charge in history and is a living testament to the continued bravery and determination of our outback sons", he said.

The show however, whilst demonstrating this important event in our history, still contains all the modern day fun and competitive spirit of the outback and its people which has struck such a chord, particularly with Australians.

Presenting partner, R.M.Williams Company is proud to continue their support for Australian Outback Spectacular.

R.M.Williams Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Hamish Turner, said the show continues to present Australia’s Outback heritage in an authentic format which is exciting for all audiences.

"Our company founder, Australian legend Reginald Murray ("R.M.") Williams was a passionate and proud Australian. We know R.M. would have shared our view that Australian Outback Spectacular is important because it communicates the culture of the outback to a whole new generation of Australians and visitors," Mr. Turner said.

Experience a deeper journey to the heart and soul of the Australian Outback with the new Australian Outback Spectacular 2. 'Australian Outback Spectacular's Heroes of the Light Horse' is an unforgettable evening and a holiday highlight which cannot be missed.

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