Every year on Australia Day, the Story Bridge Hotel of Brisbane listens out for the pitter-patter of tiny feet. Really tiny feet.
The hotel has held it’s annual Cockroach Races for over three decades now. The tradition supposedly began after two old punters sat in the hotel bar arguing over which Brisbane suburb had the biggest, fastest roaches.
They decided to race them on the following day, and the rest is history.
These days the critters are specially caught and flown in all the way from Melbourne. Spectators can buy a roach and enter it in one of a variety of races. Most challenging for the wee beasties is the steeplechase in which a fence (a garden hose) spirals around the circular track.
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