Riverland Town Takes Top Honours Ahead Of Burra And Cummins
There’s plenty to celebrate in the Riverland, with Waikerie officially crowned South Australia’s 2026 Agricultural Town of the Year.
The Riverland town took out the top honour ahead of fellow finalists Burra and Cummins, beating a field of 91 nominated towns from across the state.
The winner was announced on Thursday night at a ceremony held at Peter Lehmann Wines in the Barossa Valley.
And for Waikerie, it’s a case of third time lucky with the town previously making the Top 5 in 2022 and the Top 10 in 2023.
A Community With Plenty To Be Proud Of
Waikerie impressed the independent judging panel with its strong community spirit, support for agriculture and clear vision for the future.
Judges Kris Lloyd AM, Professor Simon Maddocks and Joyce Ceravolo praised the town’s willingness to grow, embrace new ideas and look beyond its own backyard for opportunities.
In fact, the panel described their time in Waikerie as “one of the best visits ever” to a country town.
One of the biggest standouts was the involvement of young people and students in the town’s award submission.
Rather than leaving the storytelling to the grown-ups, Waikerie gave its younger generation a chance to share their experiences, perspectives and hopes for the town’s future.
The judges also praised the quality of Waikerie’s submission and the effort the community put into showing what makes their town special.
A Well-Deserved Win
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven congratulated Waikerie on the achievement.
“Waikerie has received well-earned recognition for its passionate, committed and future-focused community that lives and breathes agriculture, food and wine,” she said.
“This community put so much heart into their submission and seriously impressed the judges when they visited.”
Ms Scriven also acknowledged the efforts of Burra and Cummins, which both made strong cases for taking out the title.
What’s Next For Waikerie?
As the 2026 winner, Waikerie will receive a special town entrance sign, a trophy and a community celebration, including an official sign unveiling.
The town also joins an impressive list of previous winners, including Lameroo in 2025, Penola in 2024, Wudinna in 2023, Mypolonga in 2022, Kimba in 2021, Pinnaroo in 2020 and Cleve in 2019.
Now in its eighth year, the Agricultural Town of the Year Award recognises South Australian communities where agriculture plays a major role in the local economy and where people are working to make their towns great places to live and work.
The award is an initiative of the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA).
And with the title now officially theirs, Waikerie has plenty to celebrate!
