The truth about Engadine Maccas 1997

In politics, scandals and disagreements often shape legacies, but they almost never come in the form of fast food gossip. A McDonald’s in Engadine, a rugby league game and former Prime Minister Scott Morrison are all part of one of Australia’s most persistent and curiously treasured urban legends in recent memory. People in Australia talk, make memes, and joke about this event, which is known online as “Engadine Maccas 1997.”

Morrison has completely denied that the event took place, yet the rumour won’t go away, like an Australian urban legend.

The myth started with a tweet that went viral

In October 2018, the well-known story about the Engadine Maccas 1997 started to spread. Rowan Dix, a singer from Sydney who goes by the stage name Joyride, sent a strong (and a little harsh) statement.

“Scott Morrison shit himself at the Engadine McDonald’s after the Sharks lost the Grand Final in ’97.”

That’s all there is: a strange post with no proof or context that went viral on Twitter and other social media sites in only a few hours. Joyride finally confirmed that it was a prank and not based on anything real, but the tale spread swiftly.

What happened in the year 1997?

The 1997 NRL Grand Final was a close game between Morrison’s favourites, the Brisbane Broncos and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. The Sharks were not successful. The investigation says that Morrison, who was 29 at the time, got sick from food poisoning or poor luck connected to stress not long after losing at the Engadine McDonald’s in Sydney’s south.

There is no real proof that this happened, of course. Morrison has said that the claim is not true. But it hasn’t stopped it from becoming one of the most popular memes in Australia’s online history.

Scott Morrison said, “Total garbage.”

Scott Morrison has always brushed aside the idea when asked about it in media interviews. He stated that the claim was made “in 2021 on KIIS FM.”

“I’ve never heard anything so stupid in my life.”

He kept saying this in later media appearances, saying it was an example of how false information and silly online culture can get out of hand. Morrison has never been shy about saying how stupid the rumours are, even though they make him laugh.

Why do Australians like the rumours about Engadine Maccas?

This story about the city sounds Australian. The setting (a small McDonald’s in suburban Sydney), the football link, and the story’s complete absurdity all point to traditional Aussie humour.

• It’s relatable – who hasn’t gone to McDonald’s after a game?
• It’s rude; making fun of famous people is normal in this culture.
• It’s harmless – even Morrison himself seems to take it in stride.

Larrikinism is a cultural appreciation of bad jokes and naughty comedy that defies social norms. The story of the Engadine Maccas fits in well with that history, and it doesn’t seem like it’s going to change.

There are memes, plaques, and pop culture in the legacy

The narrative of the Engadine Maccas led to:

• Mock commemorative plaques being photoshopped onto the restaurant’s walls.
• Reddit threads filled with wild theories and Photoshop parodies.
• Online merch, including T-shirts referencing the incident.
• Satirical TikToks and YouTube videos gaining thousands of views.

It has also started bigger conversations about how online culture affects political news. This story, no matter how silly, shows how powerful memes can be in a time when they can be more important than real policy decisions.

Is this story real?

Let’s be clear: there is no proof that this event happened. It is still an unproven claim that started as a funny tweet and has since become part of internet culture.

But, like with many wonderful urban legends, it doesn’t have to be true for it to go on. It feeds on whispers, shared laughter, and the reality that people can’t help but be drawn to a story that is just too strange to ignore.

Conclusion

The Engadine Maccas 1997 story isn’t just a joke; it’s a cultural event. It shows how Australians talk about politics, their sense of humour, and how much they enjoy making fun of people in power.

Even if the story is fake (and all signs point to it being made up), it will always be one of the most interesting and memorable things that have happened on the internet in Australia in the last few years.

So, the next time you go to McDonald’s in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, don’t forget to grin. You are standing on the famous turf of an Australian great.