Australia's Festival of Porridge
How it all began..
It all started with a film — and a case of mistaken déjà vu.
After seeing The Golden Spurtle at the Australian Film Festival, a Pearl Beach resident was struck by the uncanny similarities between Carrbridge, the small Scottish village that hosts the World Porridge Making Championship, and Pearl Beach. Both are small communities where the local hall sits at the heart of village life. Both have a strong sense of community, much-loved local music groups and residents who are passionate about their village. So the question was asked — could the magic of the Golden Spurtle be recreated on Australian shores?
At the heart of both Pearl Beach (left) & Carrbridge (right) villages lie their community halls.
Once the idea was set into motion, it quickly took on a life of its own — with food gurus, sponsors and business partners jumping at the chance to be a part of this unconventional and eccentric event.
And so the Pearly Spurtle – Festival of Porridge was born — a celebration of oats, creativity, laughter and community, inspired by the magic of a small Scottish village. The sold-out success of the inaugural 2026 Festival proved that there was an appetite for more than just porridge. It showed what can happen when a passionate group of people gets behind an idea — even one that starts with a humble bowl of oats.
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The similarities between the two communities extends beyond their love of cathedral ceilings. Pearl Beach Community Hall (left), Carrbridge Community Hall (right).
The Pearly Spurtle is supported by the Pearl Beach Progress Association, with profits going towards the maintenance of the Pearl Beach Memorial Hall, and Coast Shelter, a local charity who support people and families experiencing homelessness and domestic violence across the Central Coast.