Australia’s iconic Oz Lotto draw 1695 has delivered a historic, life-changing windfall, with two winning entries splitting the massive $40 million division one jackpot. Each holder is set to walk away with $20 million, and one lucky ticket-owner from Hobart, Tasmania has already stepped into the spotlight after learning of his unexpected fortune, while officials are urgently urging the mystery second winner from Queensland’s Hervey Bay to come forward and claim their unclaimed prize.
The Hobart winner, a man nearing retirement, spoke through The Lott’s official channels about the incredible moment he received the notification of his win, saying he was completely caught off guard by the news. When the official from The Lott called him directly after the draw closed Tuesday night, he had no idea he was holding a division one winning ticket. His reaction was one of raw, joyful shock: “Holy smokes. Wow. Unbelievable. That is life-changing. It’s come at a really good time.”
In an interview, the tearful winner shared how the $20 million prize will transform his family’s life, laying out plans that already feel within reach thanks to the win. For years, he and his partner have been renting and searching for a permanent home of their own, and the windfall means they can now move forward with purchasing a house immediately. He added that he is approaching retirement age, so the prize lets him retire sooner than expected, and the couple plans to check off long-held travel dreams, including a trip to the U.S. states of Texas and Arizona that he has wanted to visit for years. “It’s just a weight off your shoulders. I’m so happy,” he said.
What makes the win even more extraordinary is that it almost never happened. The winner was running late after a delayed shift at work, and only made a last-minute dash to the Sorrell Lucky Agency newsagent, arriving just a couple of minutes before the store closed for the night. Breaking from his usual routine, he did not buy his standard QuickPick random ticket; instead, his partner selected a set of numbers, and he added a few more to complete the entry that would end up making him an overnight multi-millionaire.
Meanwhile, the hunt is on for the second $20 million winner, who purchased an unregistered entry at Nextra Fraser Gateway Newsagency in Urraween, Hervey Bay. Officials from The Lott say the winner may not even know they are holding a division one winning ticket yet, and have issued an urgent appeal for all players who bought an Oz Lotto entry in the area to check their tickets as soon as possible.
“It’s easy to set a ticket aside and forget to check it, but this is a life-changing $20 million prize that is waiting to be claimed,” said Matt Hart, a spokesman for The Lott. “You may not think it’s possible you’re the winner we’re searching for, but if you purchased an entry into this draw that you haven’t checked yet, you’re in with a chance. If you discover you are holding the division one winning ticket, please contact The Lott on 131 868 to begin the claim process.”
The official winning numbers for Oz Lotto draw 1695 are 2, 19, 27, 35, 7, 22 and 30, with supplementary numbers 37, 41 and 32.