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27/3/99, SYDNEY. One of the many feathered costumes at the 1999 Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. (pic by Brigitte Riffus)

Pride and parades: A deep dive through the Mardi Gras archives

Olivia Harris, Michael Di Iorio
1 min read·February 24, 2024 - 8:24AM
News Corp Australia Network

The first unofficial Mardi Gras took place on June 24, 1978, as a protest march for LGBTQIA+ rights in commemoration of the Stonewall Riots.

Since then, the celebration has evolved into what we now know as the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, one of the largest festivals in the world and a massive source of income for NSW.

Mardi Gras celebrations have become so huge in Australia that they have attracted international performers such as Dua Lipa, Cher, U2, Cyndi Lauper and Village People, as well as beloved homegrown stars like Kylie Minogue and Tina Arena.

In this pre-millennium collection, we take a look at the history of Australian Mardi Gras celebrations with the most fabulous pictures from the archives.

 

Police disperse amongst a gay rights protest outside Central Court in Sydney in 1978. Picture: Supplied
Police disperse amongst a gay rights protest outside Central Court in Sydney in 1978. Picture: Supplied

 

Dykes on Bikes roll into the 1999 festival. Picture: Matthew Munro
Dykes on Bikes roll into the 1999 festival. Picture: Matthew Munro

 

A Mardi Gras reveller withdraws money from an ATM for the cab fare home after partying all night. Picture: Dean Lewins/AAP
A Mardi Gras reveller withdraws money from an ATM for the cab fare home after partying all night. Picture: Dean Lewins/AAP

 

Bigger is better at Mardi Gras. Picture: Supplied
Bigger is better at Mardi Gras. Picture: Supplied

 

Two Mardi Gras participants kick off the 1995 festival. Picture: Jeremy Piper
Two Mardi Gras participants kick off the 1995 festival. Picture: Jeremy Piper

 

Performers dance on a float during the Sydney parade. Picture: Supplied
Performers dance on a float during the Sydney parade. Picture: Supplied

 

An ice cream van tempts revellers leaving the Horden Pavillion. Picture: Grant Turner
An ice cream van tempts revellers leaving the Horden Pavillion. Picture: Grant Turner

 

A pro-Mardi Gras group walk during a 1978 protest. Picture: Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives
A pro-Mardi Gras group walk during a 1978 protest. Picture: Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives

 

Drag queens attend Mardi Gras dressed as Monica Lewinsky. Picture: Michael Perini
Drag queens attend Mardi Gras dressed as Monica Lewinsky. Picture: Michael Perini

 

A startled spectator walks by at Sydney’s 1994 Mardi Gras parade. Picture: Mervyn Fitzhenry
A startled spectator walks by at Sydney’s 1994 Mardi Gras parade. Picture: Mervyn Fitzhenry
Fabulous feathers on display in the 1996 Sydney Mardi Gras parade. Picture: Nathan Edwards
Fabulous feathers on display in the 1996 Sydney Mardi Gras parade. Picture: Nathan Edwards

 

Revellers of all ages celebrate in costume in 1983. Picture: Supplied
Revellers of all ages celebrate in costume in 1983. Picture: Supplied

 

Kylie Minogue attends the 1998 Mardi Gras VIP party on Sydney’s Oxford Street. Picture: Supplied
Kylie Minogue attends the 1998 Mardi Gras VIP party on Sydney’s Oxford Street. Picture: Supplied

 

Greg Logan comes out during the Mardi Gras parade. Picture: Supplied
Greg Logan comes out during the Mardi Gras parade. Picture: Supplied

 

U2 band members, Bono and Larry Mullens, enjoy a drink at the 1998 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras. Picture: Brad Newman
U2 band members, Bono and Larry Mullens, enjoy a drink at the 1998 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras. Picture: Brad Newman

 

MPs show their support at the 1993 parade. Picture: William Young
MPs show their support at the 1993 parade. Picture: William Young

 

The 1994 parade was a royal affair. Picture: Roy Haverkamp
The 1994 parade was a royal affair. Picture: Roy Haverkamp

 

Actors Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor attend the 1999 parade in sparkles. Picture: Matthew Munro
Actors Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor attend the 1999 parade in sparkles. Picture: Matthew Munro

 

Pro-Mardi Gras and the Gay Solidarity Group walk in protest in 1978. Picture: Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives
Pro-Mardi Gras and the Gay Solidarity Group walk in protest in 1978. Picture: Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives

 

Revellers party at the 1996 parade. Picture: Nathan Edwards
Revellers party at the 1996 parade. Picture: Nathan Edwards

 

Jamieson Adcock and his partner, Paul Cordeiro, wander down Bourke Street after a heavy night celebrating. Picture: Pip Blackwood
Jamieson Adcock and his partner, Paul Cordeiro, wander down Bourke Street after a heavy night celebrating. Picture: Pip Blackwood

 

Revellers pose for the camera at Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 1994. Picture: Roy Haverkamp
Revellers pose for the camera at Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 1994. Picture: Roy Haverkamp
Comedian Billy Connolly poses with a Drag Queen at 1999’s Mardi Gras. Picture: Jon Lindsay
Comedian Billy Connolly poses with a Drag Queen at 1999’s Mardi Gras. Picture: Jon Lindsay

 

Drag queens celebrate the launch of the “Drag Bag” shop in time for Mardi Gras. Picture: Sandra Priestley
Drag queens celebrate the launch of the “Drag Bag” shop in time for Mardi Gras. Picture: Sandra Priestley

 

Scantily-clad partygoers pose for a photo during the street parade in Sydney. Picture: Steve Morenos
Scantily-clad partygoers pose for a photo during the street parade in Sydney. Picture: Steve Morenos

 

Cafe patrons watch as Rei Webster and Mata Loftus perform in a dress rehearsal for the 1983 Mardi Gras Festival on Rundle Street, Adelaide. Picture: Bob Cunningham
Cafe patrons watch as Rei Webster and Mata Loftus perform in a dress rehearsal for the 1983 Mardi Gras Festival on Rundle Street, Adelaide. Picture: Bob Cunningham

 

NRL player Ian Roberts attends the 1991 Mardi Gras festival. Picture:
NRL player Ian Roberts attends the 1991 Mardi Gras festival. Picture:

 

Things get fruity at the 1993 festival. Picture: Tracey Haslam
Things get fruity at the 1993 festival. Picture: Tracey Haslam

 

Combination marchers during the millennium Mardi Gras street parade in Sydney. Picture: Steve Morenos
Combination marchers during the millennium Mardi Gras street parade in Sydney. Picture: Steve Morenos

 

A reveller attends the 1998 parade. Picture: Paul Jones
A reveller attends the 1998 parade. Picture: Paul Jones

 

Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras revellers walk down Oxford Street on their way home from a recovery party. Picture: Alan Pryke
Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras revellers walk down Oxford Street on their way home from a recovery party. Picture: Alan Pryke

 

One of the many feathered costumes at 1999’s Mardi Gras. Picture: Brigitte Riffus
One of the many feathered costumes at 1999’s Mardi Gras. Picture: Brigitte Riffus
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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/photos/pride-and-parades-a-deep-dive-through-the-mardi-gras-archives/news-story/9c5a65cb2f8dfc87c917c6c5c948a835