A March Long-Weekend Festival as Port Victoria Celebrates 150 years
Port Victoria is turning 150 — and the return of tall ships to its harbour will kick off a milestone celebration steeped in salt air, sailing history and community pride.
Over the March long weekend, the past will come roaring back to life for the Yorke Peninsula town. The official celebrations begin on Friday, March 6, when The One and All and Søren Larsen sail into Port Victoria as part of a spectacular flotilla.
On Saturday, the town once known by the Narungga people as Wauraltee will be a hive of activity, with a sailing regatta filling the bay, alongside wooden boats and model sailing ship displays.
History lovers will enjoy a steam engine display in the main street, including an engine once used in Port Victoria’s original flour mill. The town hall will host maritime displays and rolling historical films throughout the weekend. A striking 3.7-metre replica of “Olive Bank” will also be on display. The vessel carried grain from Port Victoria to Europe during the 1920s and 30s.
Family Fun, Food and Locals Bringing the Live Music
The heart of the celebrations will be at the town oval, with food vans serving everything from hamburgers and roast meat rolls to pizzas, paella and donuts.
Local band The Coo will provide live music throughout the afternoon, with Genetic Mutation keeping the party going into the evening. There’ll be coffee, beer, wine and local spirits on offer — and 20 tonnes of sand trucked in to create a giant sandpit for kids to dig and play all afternoon.
Adding to the heritage flavour, visitors can check out a traditional grain bagging and sewing demonstration, enjoy horse and cart rides, and watch a blacksmithing demonstration, bringing old skills back into the spotlight.
Port Victoria’s Windjammer Legacy
The arrival of the tall ships is far more than a photo opportunity – it’s a direct link to the reason Port Victoria exists.
Known as the last of the world’s windjammer ports, Port Victoria played a crucial role in loading grain bound for Europe during the early 1900s. It was here that towering sailing ships took part in the legendary Great Grain Race, hauling bagged grain around Cape Horn in a final race against time, wind and weather.
In 1949, two of the most famous windjammers, Passat and Pamir, sailed from Port Victoria carrying the last commercial grain cargoes of the era. Their departure marked the end of wind-powered grain transport and cemented Port Victoria’s place in global maritime history.
Local organising committee member Greg Twelftree says the town’s connection to both it’s maritime and agricultural history runs deep.
“Our community is incredibly proud of its maritime and agricultural history. The stories of our hardworking forebears and their reliance on the windjammers are still part of who we are today.”
Port Victoria/Wauraltee 150th
WHEN: March 6- 9
WHERE: Port Victoria, Yorke Peninsula
MORE DETAILS: Click Here
Camping Available
