Australia has received its first Michelin stars, with 11 restaurants in the state of South Australia being recognized by the renowned guide. Magill Estate Restaurant in Adelaide was the sole establishment to be awarded two stars, while ten other restaurants received one star each.
All of the awarded restaurants are located within South Australia. This concentration is reportedly due to the state government's decision to fund incognito inspectors from the Michelin Guide to visit the region. This initiative comes more than a century after the Michelin Guide's initial publication in France and follows years of unsuccessful attempts to bring the guide to Australia.
The Michelin Guide has approached Australia's national tourism bodies on multiple occasions regarding an Australian edition, but these efforts did not result in an inclusion. South Australia ultimately pursued its own independent deal to bring the guide to the state. While the exact cost of the state government's investment has not been disclosed, Tourism Minister Emily Bourke stated to ABC News that it was instrumental in "creating a tourism destination and putting us on the world map."
The inclusion of South Australian restaurants follows Michelin's recent expansion into New Zealand, which became the first destination in Oceania to be featured in the guide. New Zealand reportedly agreed to a three-year payment of NZ$6.3 million (approximately £2.7 million or $3.5 million) for its inclusion.