There is so much to do in the city to celebrate and reflect upon Australia Day and it all begins tomorrow with a wide range of community activities in Elder Park / Tarntanya Wama for people to enjoy.
Activities include the Mourning in the Morning smoking ceremony, Respecting Country Parade and two nights of fireworks displays commencing at 9:30 pm.
This year the City of Adelaide will also return to its previous practice of holding its first citizenship ceremony of the year ahead of Australia Day. Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith congratulated our new citizens and the City of Adelaide Citizen of the Year finalists (information below).
The Lord Mayor said thousands of people were expected to flock to Elder Park from tomorrow evening.
“The city is the centre of Australia Day activities with the Australia Day Council organising a vibrant program of events,” said the Lord Mayor.
“The free Aus Lights on the River event on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 January features a twilight First Nations ceremony, transformation of the historic rotunda into a giant aquarium, a smoking ceremony led by Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna cultural leader Uncle Moogy Sumner on the morning of Australia Day and fireworks displays.
“Council will continue to host or support Australia Day events which are held within the city as it has for many years. This includes spending $182,000 this year on the activities within Elder Park, in partnership with the Australia Day Council.”
Rundle Mall is also open from 11:00am to 5:00pm on the Australia Day public holiday.
Australia Day events
- Citizenship and Awards ceremonies
25 January at Adelaide Town Hall from 10:00 am
- Aus Lights on the River – 25 & 26 January, Elder Park
Visit for more information on all of the activities. View the Respecting Country Parade Route . The parade can be viewed from designated areas or from Elder Park.
Citizenship Ceremony
- Around 50 conferees from more than 20 countries will become Australian Citizens and celebrate their first Australia Day as Australians
- Ceremony will take place in Council Chambers at 10:00 am with morning tea following in the Queen Adelaide Room, and media are welcome to attend
City of Adelaide Awards Finalists
2024 Citizen of the Year
- Shane Sody, President of the Adelaide Park Lands Association, community advocate
- Tam Boakes, local music venue operator and promoter
- Stephan Oulianoff, community service to the city at Adelaide Central Markets
- Virginia Hill, supporting children with Autism
2024 Young Citizen of the Year
- Denzel James, UNICEF Australian Ambassador participant and SRC
- Marshall Hudson, assistant for Sturt Football club training and medical staff
2024 Community Event of the Year
- MOSAIC Adelaide 2023 – Multicultural Festival
- WEA 110th Anniversary Open Day
- One Humanity Charity concert – to raise money for earthquake victims in Syria and Turkey
Active Citizenship Award
- SAGE SA Grassroot Ecosystem – action group towards protecting our ecology.
- Human Kind City Studio – educational hub with yoga meditation, clinical psychologist to support community health and social transformation
- Youth Options Garden Squad – Greening Adelaide City verges
