Port Fairy is celebrating after being awarded Wotif’s Aussie Town of the Year on Wednesday morning.
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A huge crowd turned out for the announcement at The Wharf with Nine’s Today show doing its live weather cross from the town.
Moyne Shire mayor Mick Wolfe said it was fantastic news and had come on the back of long-term efforts and investments made by people in the community.
“It’s taken a lot of effort by a lot of people over many years,” he said.
“It’s a just reward for the whole town.”
He said the community enjoyed a great event on Wednesday morning.
“We are just all abuzz here in Port Fairy,” he said.
Cr Wolfe said the town had received national publicity and he expected that would increase interest and tourism.
Port Fairy IGA owner Colin Cleary was at the announcement and he praised the town’s volunteers and community spirit.
“Port Fairy deserves this because it is a great town to live in,” he said.
Port Fairy Business Association president Ken Brookes said the award was the result of hard work by the town’s residents.
“Business is going very well in Port Fairy already so it’s just going to be the icing on the cake,” he said.
South West Coast MP Roma Britnell said it was a great achievement and she also praised the efforts of the community.
“It’s absolutely no surprise,” she said.
“Port Fairy has done it well for a very long time.”
Wotif is a leading online travel website and each year recognises 10 locations across the country that have contributed to tourism.
This year’s awards were based on Wotif pricing and demand data and for the first time traveller reviews.
Wotif managing director Daniel Finch said Port Fairy was getting fantastic accommodation reviews and it was a credit to operators in the community.
“Out of a top score of five, Port Fairy is currently rating at a 4.5,” he said.
“You can’t get much better than that.”
Mr Finch said the Wotif awards were based on more than two million reviews.
Queensland’s Mackay was the inaugural winner of the competition last year and has enjoyed substantially increased accommodation interest and activity since it won the award.