Honouring The Past
Quorn Quandong Festival
25 to 26 October - 2025
Sophie Thomson and Andrew Fielke
featuring special guests
"Taste" "Create" "Grow"
Food, Music, Art and Sustainability.
The Quandong Festival will be engaging and interactive. Hosting stalls laden with Quandong products, interactive cooking demonstrations, art exhibitions and cultural performances.
Educating visitors with sustainable farming and landcare initiatives related to Quandong propogation
The Quandong will be showcased for its culinary and ecological significance. The festival will be a celebration of all aspects of the fruit, highlighting the significance with Indigenous heritage through story telling and cultural exhibits
The Quorn Quandong Festival honors bush foods, flavours and the rich history of the Quandong (Kurti) in our region.
Kurti is the Nukunu word for the native peach, also known broadly as Quandong in Wiradjuri language. Kurti is a unique and fascinating fruit native to Australia.
This small, bright red fruit grows on the wild bush trees of the Santalum acuminatum species, and was first described by Robert Brown in 1802. He gave it the Latin epithet acuminatus to describe the leaves which are pointed. The botanist Aphonse Pyrame de Candolle gave the current name in 1857, placing it in the genus Santalum.
Quandong is renowned for its distinct tart and slightly sweet flavor, making it a popular ingredient in jams, sauces, and desserts.
Apart from its culinary appeal, the Quandong fruit also holds cultural significance for Indigenous Australian communities, who have utilized it for its medicinal properties for generations. Rich in essential vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals, Quandong is not only a delicious treat but also a nourishing addition to a well-balanced diet.
With its vibrant hue and tantalizing taste, the Kurti or Quandong fruit stands as a unique and cherished symbol of Australia's diverse natural bounty.
Competitions
The Quorn Quandong Festival's GREAT COUNTRY COOK-OFF is an unmissable highlight, embodying the essence of country town celebrations. With competitions in diverse categories, it promises a feast of flavors and creativity. Distinguished judges, including Andrew Fielke and John Weeks, will add prestige to the event. The competition showcases the town's culinary delights whilst celebrating the region's indigenous ingredients and natural beauty. The cook-off adds an exciting culinary flair, capturing the spirit of the festival and delighting participants and visitors alike.
The Quandong Festival Will Feature Competitions In The Following Categories:
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Nukunu
Quorn is situated in the ancestral land of the Nukunu people, who call the Southern Flinders and Spencer Gulf region home, and they have a rich cultural heritage and deep spiritual connection to the area. Their way of life is
deeply rooted in hunting, gathering and maintaining a profound understanding of the environment.
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The Nukunu people have sustained their traditions and stories for thousands of years, maintaining their traditional practices from generation to generation. Today they continue to assert their cultural identity as well as engage with the broader Australian society to promote awareness and understanding of their unique heritage.
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In recent times Quorn has become the home of people from the Aboriginal groups including Adnyamathanha, Dieri and Barngala.​
