The Paint The Town Red 2025 photography competition has wrapped up, with Gill Dayton named as the overall winner for her stunning image of Callington Mill in Oatlands.
The competition, which runs alongside the Dark Mofo winter festival, attracted more than 700 entries from across Tasmania and expanded its reach further into regional areas than ever before.
Destination Southern Tasmania CEO Alex Heroys said the competition demonstrated Tasmania’s unique ability to unite in celebration.
“We saw more than 700 photos and videos loaded onto the #PTTR25,” Heroys said.
“There were more than 1500 votes for the People’s Choice award. The winner, Jules Vitek, won by only 23 votes.”
“It’s a great reflection of how we can come together as a State to collaborate and support,” Heroys said.
Businesses this year participated in locations as far-flung as Swansea, Oatlands and Ulverstone, lighting up their premises in red.
“That’s particularly pleasing for us because it means that Paint The Town Red and the effects of Dark Mofo spread out into regional Tasmania. We had 15 businesses light up in Swansea this year,” Heroys said.
Overall winner Gill Dayton said she was “absolutely thrilled” and “very honoured” to take home the top honour.
“Very humbled as well. It’s such a great competition,” Dayton said.
“I absolutely love winter, so any excuse for me to get out during the winter nights, I’m very happy to do so. But when it’s lit up and red, it’s just so beautiful.”
The festival itself continues to grow, with Heroys saying there was record participation following last year’s pause.
“The pause last year really reflected to the community how much they missed it,” he said.
Winners received prizes from various Tasmanian businesses including DoubleTree by Hilton Hobart, Callington Mill Distillery, and Port Arthur Historic Site.
