Australia Day festivities are underway across the country, marked by cultural ceremonies, fun runs, citizenship events and reflections on the nation’s complex history.
January 26 commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788, a date that continues to carry both national pride and deep significance for First Nations communities. The day’s official program began in Canberra with the National Citizenship and Flag Raising Ceremony, accompanied by the Royal Military College Duntroon band performing Land Down Under. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Governor‑General Sam Mostyn and National Australia Day Council chair John Foreman AM attended the event on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.
WugulOra Ceremony Welcomes the Dawn in Sydney
Hundreds gathered beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge at Barangaroo Reserve for the WugulOra Morning Ceremony, now in its 23rd year. Meaning “One Mob,” WugulOra honours the enduring culture of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, blending traditional dance, song and smoking rituals with messages of unity and hope for a shared future.
Darwin Celebrates Through Rain and Community Spirit
In Darwin, celebrations began at sunrise despite steady drizzle. Locals gathered at the Darwin Convention Centre, warming up with Zumba before taking part in the Oz Run, offering 2.5km and 5km routes through the city.
Victorian Governor Margaret Gardner addressed attendees, reflecting on “times that try our souls,” referencing the recent Bondi Beach terror attack, climate pressures and global conflicts that she said had fuelled “discrimination and hatred on our shores.” She urged Australians not to let division overshadow shared values.
Among the crowd was Thanh‑Kham Tran‑Dang OAM, who fled Vietnam in 1979 and later helped found the Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association a reminder of the diverse stories woven into the national fabric.
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