News
9 January, 2025
Festival site reclaim
The Woodford Folk Festival, a cherished pillar of Australia’s cultural scene, is embarking on a bold $5.7 million fundraising campaign to reclaim its historic festival site from the City of Moreton Bay Council, ensuring its preservation for generations to come.
Dubbed ‘A Forest of Goodwill,’ the ambitious initiative aims to safeguard the 240-acre Woodfordia site—a sanctuary for wildlife, artistic expression, and community engagement - for the future.
Festival organisers are rallying public support, offering donors of $1,000 or more the chance to become founding patrons of the newly envisioned Woodfordia Foundation.
With $650,000 already pledged to date, the campaign marks a pivotal moment in the festival’s history.
“A current focus of Woodfordia is to deliver new low-risk business opportunities and diversified income streams,” a festival spokesperson said in a statement.
has become a symbol of cultural and environmental innovation.
Organisers highlighted that $22 million has been invested in permanent infrastructure, eco initiatives, and services to accommodate the event’s Photo Credit: Marek Knappe
“Securing the land is critical to realising the financial sustainability of Woodfordia.”
The Woodford Folk Festival traces its roots to 1986 when the Queensland Folk Federation sought to establish a permanent home for the Maleny Folk Festival. In 1994, a community effort secured the Woodfordia site, which evolved into today’s renowned festival which organisers claim hosts the largest gathering of artists and presenters in Australia.
seeks to meet the $5.7 million buy-back price and align with the festival’s ambitious ‘500-Year Plan’—a vision for a debt-free, sustainable future.
Festival Director Amanda Jackes lauded the community’s unwavering support following the event’s milestone 37th year.
“To our incredible patrons, dedicated volunteers, and talented artists and performers—thank you for not only supporting Woodfordia but championing Australian live music in these challenging times.”
With donations open until July 2026, organisers remain optimistic about reaching their target.
Now, with over 100,000 annual attendees and 1,600 performances across 27 stages, Woodfordia temporary 20,000-strong village.
Despite its success, the land has been leased to the City of Moreton Bay Council, since the 2010–11 floods, with a buy-back clause set to expire in 2036.
“The time has come to buy back the land and establish the Foundation,” they affirmed, calling on supporters to help secure Woodfordia’s legacy.
