Hunt for mystery $3.3m Lotto winner in tiny outback town
Residents of a small outback town are being urged to check their Lotto tickets as the search continues for the winner of $3.3 million.
Julia Creek lies three hours east of Mt Isa in rural Queensland and has a population of just 377 people – and one them could be starting the new year as a multi-millionaire.
The winner was among 12 division one winners to split Saturday Lotto’s $40m Megadraw on New Year’s Eve – with each winner pocketing $3,333,333.34.
The mystery winner’s ticket was purchased from Julia Creek News, where owner Ellen Warner said the town was buzzing with the news.
"This is by far the largest win in our 38 years of ownership. Certainly people in town are all asking each other," she said, according to ABC News.
"Given this time of the year, so much of our population is away or on holidays … maybe it was a local who went on holidays and they'll check once they're back.”
It’s possible a visitor to the town purchased the winning ticket and are unaware of their win.
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“Whether they’re a local or someone who was just passing through, we’re encouraging anyone who purchased an entry at Julia Creek News to check their tickets!” The Lott spokesperson Matt Hart told Yahoo News Australia.
Queensland Lotto winners have seven years to claim their prize.
Three other winners in the New Year’s Eve draw were also from Queensland, including a Forest Lake dad and a Loganholme mum.
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