New Western Australia Pumpkin Record Set

A pumpkin weighing 408 kilograms has set a new state record for the heaviest pumpkin ever grown in Western Australia. The Atlantic giant pumpkin was grown in Albany by Kelsey Freemantle and secured the top prize at the Lower Kalgan Pumpkin Competition.

The weigh-in took place during the weekend of April 4-5, 2026, approximately 420 kilometres south of Perth. The 408kg specimen surpassed the previous state record of 361kg, which had been held by Robert Giumelli since 2018.

The winning pumpkin was transported to the competition on a small truck via a forklift to ensure it met the eligibility requirements for the record. Details of the weigh-in have been submitted to Australian Giant Pumpkin and Vegetable Supporters for official confirmation.

Competition Results and Sibling Rivalry

The competition featured a close contest between Kelsey Freemantle and her sister, Amarah Freemantle. Amarah finished in second place with a pumpkin weighing 406kg, falling just 2kg short of the record-breaking weight.

The sisters, who had previously entered the competition together, chose to compete separately this year to test different growing styles. Amarah Freemantle noted that she adopted a more haywire approach to her growing method to see if it would impact the final size, while also using a tent to protect her pumpkin.

Trevor Hanning took third place in the senior category with a pumpkin weighing 317kg. The event attracted a total of 33 entrants across both senior and junior categories.

Junior Category Standings

The junior section of the competition also saw significant entries, with the following results recorded:

• First Place: Tanayah Bailey (126.4kg)
• Second Place: Lucy Lockhart (82kg)
• Third Place: Thea Chant (64.8kg)

Event Logistics and Weather Impact

The Lower Kalgan Pumpkin Festival was scaled back and the main festival event was cancelled due to forecast bad weather. However, organisers proceeded with the weigh-in event.

John Bocian, an organiser for the festival, described the season as excellent for pumpkin growing. He stated that organisers initially expected the winning entry to be around 286kg, but three pumpkins exceeding that weight arrived on Sunday.

Ainslie Mason, an event committee organiser, described this as the biggest year for pumpkins in the event’s history. She noted that the 408kg pumpkin was the largest they had ever seen and that it broke a previous record held by Ms. Freemantle herself.

Kelsey Freemantle expressed surprise at the final size of the Atlantic giant, stating that while she knew such sizes were possible, she was unsure if she would be able to achieve it.