Listed: Every South Australian and Adelaide council’s Australia Day events
Some are hosting light shows and barbies, others big events and citizenship ceremonies – while others are doing nothing. See what your council has planned.
SA News
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Just six South Australian councils aren’t supporting or hosting Australia Day celebrations on January 26, as the trend of local government ditching the contested date appears to plateau.
An Advertiser survey found most councils were sticking to simpler, traditional celebrations on January 26, including breakfasts (usually with a sausage sizzle or barbecue), Australia Day award ceremonies and citizenship ceremonies.
The six councils not supporting Australia Day are Adelaide Hills, Charles Sturt, Mitcham, Port Adelaide Enfield, Port Pirie and Prospect.
Others have moved their citizenship ceremonies to another date, while supporting celebrations on January 26. These are the City of Adelaide, Coorong, Marion, Mount Gambier and Whyalla.
A total of 30 South Aussie councils will not host citizenship ceremonies on January 26, most because they have small populations, with no current citizenship applications.
Unley Council will host a citizenship ceremony on January 26 after the council voted 8:4 in September to reverse a past decision ditching the date, becoming the first SA council to reverse its Australia Day stance.
Days after that vote, former Unley councillor Georgie Hart resigned, alleging disrespect had been shown to an Indigenous elder at the heated debate in the council meeting.
In January, Mount Barker Council became the latest to fall into an Australia Day spat, after its funding of a “Survival Day” event alongside traditional celebrations drew the ire of residents and a dissenting councillor.
The councillor, Rebecca Hewett, accused Mayor David Leach of “silencing” her when he urged her to delete a Facebook poll about council’s funding of the event, then repeatedly interrupted her at a council meeting as she spoke about the matter.
Port Adelaide Enfield Council is also funding a Survival Day event on January 26, with a smoking ceremony, BBQ, dance and music performances.
The City of Adelaide is funding a public program at Elder Park on Australia Day, which will feature a light show, a Mourning in the Morning event with speakers and a smoking ceremony, a Respecting Country Parade, an official ceremony, and a “culinary adventure” offering flavours from around the world.
Walkerville Council will host a new, free event, Backyard BBQ, with awards, live music, Australian animals, native floral arranging, story time and dress-ups for children, and food trucks.
Further out of the city, Port Augusta and Karoonda East Murray will have thong-throwing competitions at their council-funded events.
The latest Australia Day poll conducted by Institute of Public Affairs, a conservative think tank, found 69 per cent of Australians agreed with the statement, “Australia Day should be celebrated on January 26”. The figure was up six points from last year.
The federal government in 2022 allowed local councils to decide for themselves if they held citizenship ceremonies on January 26.
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