Kalgoorlie on Monopoly board

Kalgoorlie has won a popular vote to take poll position for Western Australia on the new Aussie version of the Monopoly board. Here is the media release:

Australia’s all new Here & Now Monopoly has been unveiled, revealing a controversial yet interesting and exciting new board. Not only did many regional areas score the prime real estate positions, some capital cities didn’t make it onto the board!

Close to half of all the nearly 17 million votes placed by the Australian public came from South Australia, with Barossa casting an extraordinary 2,046,136 votes, during what proved to be a highly competitive five weeks of voting, to secure the prestigious dark blue “Mayfair” spot. The new game has also given way to inflation with the $4 million price tag on the property, notably higher than the $400 for the most expensive property on the classic, UK version.

Celebrating the region’s win, the Head of Tourism for Barossa, Mr Julian Maul said “This is a win the whole region will be celebrating. Monopoly is Australia and the world’s best loved game and we have no doubt that this will lift the profile of our beautiful region and be a boost for tourism.”

In all there were 22 regions that won places on the new board after Australians were given the chance for the first time ever, to vote their favourite area onto the board. Adelaide secured the other dark blue spot, with Kalgoorlie coming in first in the second placed state, WA. Mining towns overall proved to be the most enthusiastic voters with both Broken Hill and Sovereign Hill also getting the most votes in their respective states, NSW and Victoria.

Conversely big city folks let their cities down, with four capital cities failing to make the cut. Australia’s largest city, Sydney missed out on getting a spot by just 0.6 of a percent, just slipping out of contention in the final 24 hours of voting. The voting was so close in many instances that Queensland was left with the cheapest properties on the board after being beaten by ACT in the voting by a mere 0.01%!

Hasbro Australia’s Marketing Manager for Monopoly, Amanda Blackhall said however, “While the somewhat surprising results will no doubt be disappointing to those that didn’t make it onto the board, there are no real losers in those that did. To secure any one of the spots on the new Australian board of the world’s most famous game is a great achievement. In fact, given the huge number of votes the campaign attracted, all Australians who voted should be given a pat on the back!”

“This is the first time in the game’s 25 year history that it has undergone a face lift. We’re anticipating that 85,000 copies of the new Australian Monopoly will be sold in the first year to both patriotic locals and tourists wanting to boast about the places they’ve visited while abroad.”

Outside of the voting, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth all scored spots on the board in the form of airports which replaced the old train stations. Being a “Here & Now” version of Monopoly, the game is also notable for several other changes including modern and appropriately Australian tokens such as a jet, mobile phone, ute, surfboard, thongs and even a labradoodle that originated in Australia taking the place of the old dog. Likewise the Community Chest and Chance cards reflect today’s lifestyle with players likely to win second place in a reality TV show or be fined for using their mobile while driving. Australians will also relate to cards that have them winning fishing tournaments and going on camping trips!

Australians can view the new Monopoly Here & Now board and even play a demo of the game and possible win a place on the leader board at www.monopoly.com.au. The website also has information on the winning towns and the history of Monopoly. Or better still from Wednesday 6^th June, be the first to buy a copy at your favourite toy or game retailer!

From January 8^th to February 10^th 2007, the Australian public logged onto www.monopoly.com.au and cast 16.8 million votes for their favourite regions in each state or territory, to determine which top three will be given a spot on the all new Australian Monopoly board as follows:

Interesting facts and figures from the results…

· The Australian public lodged 16,866,491 votes between January 8 to February 10, 2007.

· Regional areas outweighed capital cities in four of the eight states and territories.

· Capital cities missed out in four states; Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra and Darwin.

· Uluru missed out on a place by just over 1%.

· Sydney missed out on a place by 0.6%.

· Mining towns came first in three states; Kalgoorlie (WA), Sovereign Hill(VIC) and Broken Hill (NSW).

· South Australia came first, but only secured two places on the board as there are only two positions available in the most expensive properties.

· Queensland also secured two places on the board as there are only two positions available in the least expensive properties.

· Barossa was the town with the most votes overall with 2,046,136 votes.

· Yarra Valley received the least amount of votes with 24,179 votes.

· Australian Capital Territory beat Queensland by 0.01%.

· Regardless of voting, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne are represented on the board with their airports replacing the old railroads.

Australian Here & Now Chance and Community Chest cards

· All cards have been updated to the ‘Here & Now’.

· You can be fined $150K for using your mobile while driving.

· You sell your World Cup tickets in an online auction for $500K.

· You could win second prize in a reality TV show and collect $500K.

· You are investigated for identity fraud and go directly to jail!

· Get caught in peak hour traffic and go back three spaces.

· You have been duped by a pyramid selling scheme and have to pay each player $50.

· Or when a Pop Star cancels their Australian tour you have to move back three spaces.