Peter Thurn

Representative Zone for Peter Thurn: Victoria
ANBC Hall of Fame, Breeders Excellence Division Induction: 2012

Peter Thurn, the current President of the Budgerigar Council of Victoria, is a widely respected figure in the Australian budgerigar fancy and a distinguished inductee into the ANBC Hall of Fame – Breeders Excellence Division. With a total of 12 national class wins to his name, Peter’s record is a testament to both his deep understanding of the hobby and his sustained excellence over nearly two decades.

Peter’s first national win came in 2008 with an Albino, and in 2009 he delivered a remarkable hat-trick—taking out the Clearbody, Fallow, and Dominant Pied classes in a single national show. He further cemented his expertise in the Clearbody variety with back-to-back wins in 2011 and 2012, followed by a Dilute victory in 2014, which marked his seventh national class win and qualified him for Hall of Fame induction.

However, Peter’s success only continued to grow. He added to his legacy with an Opaline win in 2018, followed by another Fallow title in 2019. Most impressively, he achieved a remarkable run of three further national victories in 2023 and two more in 2024—claiming additional wins in Fallow, Blue, and Opaline. These results not only reflect his versatility across a diverse range of varieties but also underscore his sustained ability to compete at the highest level across evolving standards and generations.

Remarkably, when accounting for the fact that Peter was ineligible to exhibit in both 2016 and 2022 due to his role as a National Show judge, and with the 2020 and 2021 Nationals cancelled due to the pandemic, his consistency becomes even more striking. Since his first national win in 2008, Peter has averaged nearly one national class win per eligible year—an extraordinary achievement in the modern era of the fancy.

Beyond the Show Bench

As BCV President, Peter is also recognised for his leadership and dedication to advancing the hobby in Victoria and beyond. His influence is felt not just through his birds but through his commitment to fostering the next generation of breeders.

Peter Thurn’s Hall of Fame record stands as one of depth, consistency, and leadership—qualities that continue to shape the Australian budgerigar scene today. His contribution to the fancy is both celebrated and ongoing.