Australia's first-ever Michelin stars go to 11 restaurants in one state

Australia has been awarded its first Michelin stars, with 11 restaurants in the state of South Australia receiving the distinction.

Key points

• The wider guide includes more than 70 other South Australian restaurants, with some recognised through the Bib Gourmand category.
• While 10 others were awarded one star each, magill Estate Restaurant in Adelaide was the only venue to receive two stars.
• Created by brothers André and Édouard Michelin in 1900, the guide was originally designed to encourage motorists to travel – ultimately boosting their core business of selling tyres.
• Michelin stars were introduced in 1926 and have since become a major distinction for chefs and restaurants worldwide.
• The announcement comes more than a century after the Michelin Guide was first published in France and after years of unsuccessful attempts to bring it to Australia.

South Australia's administration paid for incognito inspectors to visit the state, according to national broadcaster ABC. It is why no spots have been recognised in other parts of the country.

Notably, the announcement comes more than a century after the Michelin Guide was first published in France and after years of unsuccessful attempts to bring it to Australia.

Michelin has approached the national tourism board a number of times concerning bringing the guide to the country with no success.

South Australia decided to go it alone and pursued its own accord. The state administration 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 remarked.

For context, the move follows Michelin's expansion into New Zealand. It 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.

Created by brothers André and Édouard Michelin in 1900, the guide was originally designed to encourage motorists to travel – ultimately boosting their core business of selling tyres. It offered drivers maps and recommendations for places to eat and stay, before evolving into one of the best-known names in restaurant recognition.

While three stars are reserved for exceptional cuisine worth a special journey, one star recognises high-quality cooking, two stars indicate excellent cooking worth a detour.

Among the one-star recipients is Arkhé in Norwood. It specialises in open-fire cooking, while Aptos in Adelaide serves a tasting menu focused on native Australian ingredients. Here is the full list. Magill Estate Restaurant, Rosslyn Park.

For context, the wider guide includes more than 70 other South Australian restaurants, with some recognised through the Bib Gourmand category. It highlights restaurants offering good food at more moderate rates.

Taken together, the developments around australia' s first-ever Michelin stars go to 11 restaurants in one state point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.