Race week is officially underway and for the hundreds of fans who have not found accommodation at hotels or at Mount Panorama, several camping options have popped up around town, including Tent City and Tent Town.
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Tent City returns to Police Paddock and unlike last year, owner Shawn Whitmore is hopeful that the set-up will remain at the location the entire week.
In 2016, Police Paddock was washed out, with Mr Whitmore and his team quickly having to relocate to Alec Lamberton Field.
“It’s a lot drier this year and the forecast is looking really good,” he said.
“We’ve brought around 300 to 350 tents, which is the average amount we’ve brought in previous years.”
Tent City has single, double and triple tents and Mr Whitmore said Friday to Sunday, of the Bathurst 1000 weekend, are the biggest days, with up to 650 people camping out.
“There’s a lot of breakfast to be cooked. We provide a barbecue breakfast each day and we start cooking at about 3am,” he said.
“We do this every day and on Wednesday, the crowds slowly build up.”
It is now the 10th year Tent City has come to Bathurst for the Great Race and Mr Whitmore said he has enjoyed coming each year.
“We always love coming to Bathurst,” he said.
While it may be the home of greyhound racing in Bathurst, Kennerson Park will also be the temporary home for many keen race fans.
Tent Town is one of the other tents providers.
Tent Town campers will have access to the licensed club – the Hungry Hound – a huge outdoor undercover area and clean amenities.
Peter Crewes, owner of Tent Town, set up the business to make sure that the local community benefits from Bathurst’s annual October tourism boom.
“In previous years I got the boy scouts to get breakfast ready and got other members of the community involved in helping out,” he said.
“That’s how it used to be back in the day. Local businesses in town used to go up and set up camp at Mount Panorama.
“I’ve noticed over the years how it has changed for local businesses. It’s important to hold this event but we have to retain as much in town as we can. That’s why I set up Tent Town.”
After being set up on the grounds surrounding Paddy’s Hotel in previous years, Tent Town moved to Kennerson Park due to upgrades at the hotel.
Tent Town will also accommodate campers’ caravans but does not allow campers to bring their own tents.
Over 20 tents will be set up, which is lower than usual.
Mr Crewes has made it possible for campers to arrive earlier and stay longer, with campers being able to stay until October 10, two days after the finish of the Bathurst 1000.
“One person has come to Bathurst for the first time in 40 years and he’s visited Abercrombie House, Chifley House and the Fossil Museum. We also need to promote what else we also have on offer rather than just the track,” he said.
