Overview
Besides the lamington, fairy bread and the democracy sausage, the humble meat pie is as close to a national dish as Australia can claim. With an obligatory slather of ketchup, the classic Four and Twenty is a faithful hunger buster at the footy, but chefs across the country have also sought to elevate this faithful snack, lofting it from simple grab-and-go grub to a thing of culinary beauty.
To celebrate this gourmet glow-up, The Great Aussie Pie Competition, now in its 35th year, searches the country for pie perfection. At an event held in Melbourne between September 2–5, over 1500 pies vied for the title of Australia's best as 16 of the nation's "most dedicated pie connoisseurs" considered the colour, flavour, size, pastry and finesse of the meat-filled morsels in the running. In addition to bragging rights and eternal glory, competing bakers were also battling it out for more than $30,000 worth of prize money spread across the competition's various categories.
Much to the delight of the local crowd, Victoria's Buddy's Bakery in Melton took out the top spot in the coveted Best Plain Meat Pie category, beating Four Seasons Patisserie and Bakery in High Wycombe, WA, which took home the sliver.
However, Western Australians still have plenty to be proud of, with the state racking up the most awards with a haul of seven gongs including a win for Four Seasons Patisserie and Bakery in the Best Apple Pie category. In addition to the top honours, Victoria earned another four awards, while New South Wales took home four awards, including Best Gourmet Sausage Roll, Best Slow Cooked BBQ Pie, Best Vegan or Vegetarian Pie and Best Gluten-Free Pie.
Meanwhile, South Australia took home three awards and Queensland, just a single laurel.
The Winners of The Great Aussie Pie Competition
Plain Meat Pie: Buddy Bakery in Melton, Vic.
Runner-up: Four Seasons Patisserie & Bakery in High Wycombe, WA
Gourmet Pie: Jack's Bakery in Halls Head, WA
Plain Sausage Roll: Orange Spot Bakery in Glenelg, SA
Gourmet Sausage Roll: Orange Pie Company in Orange, NSW
Pastie: Orange Spot Bakery in Glenelg, SA
Tom Lindsay Pepper Steak Pie Award: Country Cob Bakery in Springvale, Vic
Apprentice Category (Pepper Steak Pie): Sam Anderson from Rolling Pin Pies & Cakes in Ocean Grove, Vic
Shepherd's / Potato Top Pie: Jack's Bakery in Halls Head, WA
Slow Cooked BBQ Pie: Forster Bakehouse in Forster, NSW
Game Pie: Paradise Bakehouse in Bundaberg, Qld
Poultry Pie: Country Cob Bakery in Springvale, Vic
Red Meat Pie: Jack's Bakery in Halls Head, WA
Vegetarian/Vegan Pie: Forster Bakehouse in Forster, NSW
Pork Pie: Four Seasons Patisserie & Bakery in High Wycombe, WA
Seafood Pie: The Little Red Grape in Sevenhill, SA
Apple Pie: Four Seasons Patisserie & Bakery in High Wycombe, WA
Brekkie Pie: Jack's Bakery in Halls Head, WA
Gluten Free Pie: Heatherbrae Pies Ourimbah in Ourimbah, NSW
Gluten Free Sausage Roll: Jojo's Gluten Free Goodies in Kernot, Vic
For a full list of all the nominated bakeries and their placings, visit The Great Aussie Pie Competition website.
Top image: Jelleke Vanooteghem