New filings linked to the collapse of Bluesfest have revealed the festival’s operating company was carrying a $3 million bank debt, secured over all of its assets, before it went into liquidation.
The documents provide the clearest picture yet of where the money went — and who is likely to get paid first.
This is a different list — and it explains what actually happened to the money
Up until now, the public picture of Bluesfest’s collapse has largely come from filings tied to the ticketing company, which listed thousands of ticket holders and related liabilities.
This new filing is different.
It relates to Bluesfest Byron Bay Pty Ltd, the company that actually ran the festival — paying suppliers, booking infrastructure and covering operational costs.
That distinction matters.
Because while the ticketing entity shows who is owed money by fans, this filing shows where much of that money was spent.
A PPSR filing shows the bank had security over everything the company owned
A registration on the Personal Property Securities Register confirms National Australia Bank held a security interest over “all present and after-acquired property” of Bluesfest Byron Bay Pty Ltd.
That type of security effectively covers the entire business, giving the bank priority over other creditors in a liquidation.
The security was registered in September 2025, just months before the festival’s collapse.
The operating company owed nearly $5 million in total
The ASIC filing shows Bluesfest Byron Bay Pty Ltd owed a total of approximately $4.86 million at the time of liquidation.
Of that:
- $3,000,000 — NAB overdraft (secured)
- ~$1.86 million — suppliers, contractors and other liabilities
The figures confirm the festival was being funded through a combination of ticket revenue and bank financing in the lead-up to its cancellation.
Where the money went
The creditor list provides a breakdown of key debts tied to the event’s operations.
Among the largest:
- NAB overdraft facility — $3,000,000
- Reddawn Australia (production/logistics) — $451,169
- Bluesfest Tours Pty Ltd (intercompany loan) — $558,875
- Bluesfest Enterprises Pty Ltd (intercompany loan) — $301,722
- Insurance Advisernet (H2is) — $77,741
- EVENTelec Events Pty Ltd — $29,014
- 1800BUGGIES / Roxwood Downs Pty Ltd — $33,909
- Bailey Print Group — $13,585
- Bun Coffee Byron Bay — $13,503
- Discovery Parks — $15,000
- Solo Resource Recovery — $22,000
Dozens of smaller suppliers are also listed, covering catering, equipment hire, infrastructure and event services.
Almost no assets remain to cover the debts
Despite the scale of liabilities, the filing shows the company held minimal recoverable assets.
Total assets were listed at approximately $339,000, but the estimated realisable value was effectively negligible.
There were also no employee liabilities recorded.
The structure explains why fans and suppliers are exposed
The documents confirm that Bluesfest operated across multiple entities.
One company handled ticket sales, while Bluesfest Byron Bay Pty Ltd was responsible for running the event and paying suppliers using those funds.
Both companies are now in liquidation.
With the bank holding secured claims over all assets, other creditors — including suppliers and ticket holders — are likely to be left with little or nothing.
The collapse leaves thousands at the back of the queue
Ticket holders have been classified as unsecured creditors, placing them behind secured lenders and other priority claims.
The filings show that by the time the festival was cancelled, most of the available funds had already been spent on operational costs.
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