ARIAH PARK, Australia — They called it a wet T-shirt contest, but there were no winners or losers. Not many shirts, either.

One man wore nothing but a tool belt, which no one seemed to mind even as the wettest and drunkest of the young and rural Australians — both women and men — tackled each other in the thick red mud, before arising for hugs.

Two hours later, they appeared transformed: black ties for the men, dresses for the women. The Ariah Park Bachelor and Spinster Ball had officially begun. After all, 1,500 people didn’t drive forever to this tiny town (population 493) just for giggles. They were searching for love.