Our story

The Robe River Rodeo & Campdraft is an iconic Western Australian event, proudly running since 1995. Held just outside the Pilbara town of Pannawonica, the rodeo draws competitors and spectators from across Australia for days filled with top-quality competition, red dirt underfoot and a strong sense of community.

In 2025, the committee proudly celebrated its 30th birthday — a milestone that reflects just how far the event has come. What began as a small, one-day rodeo on the Pannawonica Speedway Track has grown into a major multi-day event, supported by purpose-built grounds that have continued to evolve.

One of the original founder Don Inall has watched the rodeo grow and change over the past 30 years. The idea itself was born in 1995 over a thought-provoking beer, when Ron Inall and Caryn Inall, along with two other Pannawonica locals, first floated the notion of a hometown rodeo. With just nine weeks to pull it together, the group buckled down and delivered a successful first show.

What started as a plan to have a bit of fun and raise some money for charity has since become an essential part of the town’s identity — and a fixture on the Western Australian social calendar. Today, funds raised through the event are reinvested directly back into the local community and nominated charities, ensuring the Robe River Rodeo & Campdraft continues to give back to the place and people that made it possible.