21/09/2026
🚀💙 Chinchilla's Free TARDIS Cosplay Experience Deserves a Spot in the Welcome Pack! 🗺️✨
Today brought a moment I'll admit was a little surprising! 😊 Imagine conceiving and privately funding a local attraction that becomes an overnight hit with travellers from around the globe, only to discover it hasn't yet found its way into the Welcome Packs for visiting Groups and Rallies. 🌏
Important to note: because this is very likely just an embarrassing oversight, I've extended an invitation to the Group and its members currently travelling! ☕🎉 If you pop in for your TARDIS photos between 8:30am and 10:00am, from tomorrow until Friday this week, I'll shout every one of you a coffee at one of our amazing local coffee shops, to make up for the Chinchilla TARDIS brochures missing from the Welcome Packs. 📸💙 I would ask WDRC to not stress as our company will foot the bill entirely! 😊
The story behind the Chinchilla TARDIS is close to my heart. ❤️ It began during Covid, when a local TARDIS brought so much joy to my son that I promised him one day he'd have a TARDIS of his own. I did more than keep that promise. I decided my sons Chinchilla TARDIS would pay it forward and be a free Cosplay experience for everyone to enjoy! 🎉
And the photos say it all! 📸 Smiles on people of every age as they dress up as their favourite Doctor and pose beside the world's most loved time machine. Seeing young and old come alive in front of the Big Blue Box is a thrill every single time! 🌟
To help our local marketing teams, tourist information, CCCI and Western Downs Council see what this privately funded project brings to our town, here's a quick overview: 👇
🔹 Over 6,000 tourists have stopped in to take their own photos with the TARDIS, with many excited to enjoy the full Cosplay Experience! 📸🎭
🔹 Hundreds of local coffees, breakfasts and lunches enjoyed thanks to our referrals to Chinchilla's amazing coffee shops and lunch spots! ☕🥐🍽️
🔹 Free tourist information on local highlights such as the Watermelon, Botanic Gardens, Historical Museum, Lapunyah Gallery and many more local attractions! 🍉🌿🏛️🎨
🔹 Overwhelming support for the Tourist Information Centre, Vanessa and the team of incredible volunteers, whose generous time and local knowledge strengthen and enrich the experience of every traveller who stops for information! 👏💛
And for a clearer picture of this privately funded attraction including the initial and forecast costs of the Chinchilla TARDIS Cosplay Experience, as well as its operations: 💰👇
🔹 Stage 1: Cosplay Photostand (approx. $28,000)
Acquisition, delivery, concrete stand, safety rail, painting, modifications, signage, a custom-made lamp from the USA, costumes, sonic screwdrivers and brochures. Plus hundreds of hours of free time spent with visiting travellers, creating post-visit photos and edits (even with a little AI magic! 🤖), all while proudly promoting our local restaurants and coffee shops. ☕🍽️
🔹 Stage 2: Dalek Restoration Project (approx. $15,000)
Restoration, peripherals to outfit the Dalek body, a future concrete stand extension and handrail modifications. 🤖⚡
🔹 Stage 3: Top Secret! 🤫 (approx. $10,000)
Details staying under wraps for now!
🔹 Stage 4: The Grand Finale 🎆 (approx. $10,000 to $15,000)
One more development to complete the project and create something that will be talked about Australia-wide!
Every. Single. Stage. has been carefully planned to be 100% privately funded, as part of our commitment to putting Chinchilla on the Tourist Map! 🗺️💪
Today, a member of the public who received a Welcome Pack was pleasantly "baffled" that it didn't mention the TARDIS Cosplay experience. 😄 I'd like to gently remind Western Downs Council and other organisations that at every opportunity, on radio, TV and social media, I've promoted not just the Acacia Motel but the entire township and the wonderful family businesses that keep it thriving. 🏡💛
I'm hopeful the Welcome Pack situation is simply an oversight when packing. 🙏 Given the love this family-run business has shown the Chinchilla community, local businesses and our whole town, we'd truly appreciate a little of that love returned! 💖
Let's get Chinchilla talked about far and wide! 🌟🚪💙
MWAH! 😘
Justin, Fun Director 🎭
Western Downs Queensland Western Downs Town and Country Newspaper Western Downs Regional Council Queensland Tourism Industry Council - QTIC
