Australia has been awarded its first Michelin stars, with 11 restaurants in the state of South Australia receiving the distinction.
Magill Estate Restaurant in Adelaide was the only venue to receive two stars, while 10 others were awarded one star each.
South Australia’s government paid for incognito inspectors to visit the state, according to national broadcaster ABC, which is why no spots have been recognised in other parts of the country.
Magill chef and owner Scott Huggins said he had “dreamt of working in Michelin star restaurants as a youngster”.
He said he had worked in Michelin star restaurants in Europe and Japan.
“It’s one thing working for one, one thing achieving two [Michelin stars],” he said.
Wednesday’s announcement comes more than a century after the Michelin Guide was first published in France and following years of unsuccessful attempts to bring it to Australia.
Michelin has approached the national tourism board about bringing the guide to the country more than once, with no luck.
South Australia decided to go it alone and pursued its own deal. The state government has not disclosed how much it paid, but Tourism Minister Emily Bourke defended the investment in an interview with ABC News.
“It is enabling us to create a tourism destination and put us on the world map,” she said.
The move follows Michelin’s expansion into New Zealand, which became the first destination in Oceania to feature in the guide in July, agreeing to pay NZ$6.3m (£2.7m; $3.5m) over three years for its inclusion.