The Corowa Australian Billy Cart Championships is an iconic grassroots racing event that has been a proud tradition of the Riverina region for over 20 years. Held annually on Easter Saturday, the event transforms Sanger Street — Corowa’s main thoroughfare — into a thrilling downhill race track where homemade and professionally built billy carts compete for the title of Australian Champion. Hosted in the border town of Corowa (now part of Corowa within the Federation Council local government area), the Championships have become one of the region’s most anticipated family-friendly events. Spectators line the street as competitors of all ages race toward glory in a celebration of engineering, creativity, and community spirit.
Historical Milestones
The Corowa Australian Billy Cart Championships began in the early 2000s and was managed by the Federation Council and a dedicated group of volunteers for more than two decades. What started as a local initiative quickly gained momentum, drawing competitors from across Australia.
Over the years, racers have travelled from Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria, and beyond to take part. Carts are launched from a purpose-built ramp at the top of Sanger Street, gathering impressive speeds as they descend the course — with police radar often recording speeds between 37–52 km/h.
The Championships feature multiple competitive divisions, ensuring broad participation and strong community engagement, including:
Junior Division
Senior Division
Open Class
All Schools Challenge
The All Schools Challenge, in particular, has become a highlight of the event, encouraging local and regional schools to participate in a spirited contest of design, teamwork, and speed.
Recent Challenges & Rebirth
Like many long-standing community events, the Championships faced significant disruption in the early 2020s.
2020–2021: Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022: Halted by regional flooding across the Riverina.
2023–2024: The event remained on hiatus while its long-term future was reassessed.
In a major turning point for the event, the Corowa Lions Club officially took over management from the Federation Council, ensuring the Championships could continue for future generations. On April 19, 2025, the event made its highly anticipated return. The relaunch saw a record-breaking 66 billy carts take to Sanger Street and drew approximately 2,500 spectators, marking a powerful rebirth of one of the Riverina’s most loved Easter traditions.
The successful revival reaffirmed the Championships’ place as a cornerstone event for Corowa — bringing together families, schools, competitors, volunteers, and visitors in a celebration of community resilience and high-speed fun.
Champions & Community Spirit
The Championships are more than a race — they are a celebration of local pride, family tradition, and volunteer dedication. Over the years, the event has produced memorable champions and multi-generational racing stories that reflect the heart of the Corowa community.
Alan Treloar, a seasoned racer from Melbourne, claimed the Open Division title in 2025 and has a history of wins dating back to at least 2009 — a testament to long-term commitment and competitive excellence.
Dean Coles secured consecutive titles in 2018 and 2019, cementing his place in event history as a respected veteran of the track.
The Jones Family have become synonymous with racing pedigree, with Koby Jones winning the All Schools Challenge three consecutive years leading up to 2019 — highlighting the strong involvement of schools and youth in the Championships.
These champions represent what makes the Corowa Australian Billy Cart Championships special: generations building carts in sheds and school workshops, families travelling from across the country, and volunteers working tirelessly behind the scenes. As the event continues under the stewardship of the Corowa Lions Club, it remains a shining example of community resilience, creativity, and the enduring thrill of racing down Sanger Street each Easter Saturday.