Queensland councils commit to hosting and supporting Australia Day events in 2025
The vast majority of Queensland mayors say they are committed to celebrating Australia Day on January 26, despite several councils across the country ditching community events.
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The vast majority of Queensland mayors say they are committed to the date with Australia Day ceremonies being held across the state, despite several major councils across the country ditching community events in the past two years.
From all-day barbecues to firework spectaculars, Australia Day events and celebrations will be held across Queensland this Sunday, January 26.
Brisbane City Council will be hosting Australia Day citizenship ceremonies on January 26, on behalf of the Federal Government’s Department of Home Affairs.
In a statement, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the council intends to continue holding citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.
“Australia is the best country in the world to live which is why so many people want to call it home,” Cr Schrinner said.
“I think it’s right that Australians continue to celebrate the freedom and opportunities they enjoy on our country’s national day.
“Welcoming new citizens on Australia Day is a tradition we’ve long held in Brisbane and it’s something our council intends to continue.”
According to a Brisbane City Council spokesman, some local councillors will be supporting community events over the long weekend including the Australia Day Pool Party at Jindalee Pool, Bayside Aussie Day Brekkie, and the Langlands Pool Party.
North of Brisbane, the City of Moreton Bay will host award and citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.
The council will also host free community events, including Music in the Park Bribie Island at Brennan Park, Bongaree, from 1pm, as well as Music in the Park Scarborough at Scarborough Beach Park from 1pm.
Council will also be supporting the Aussie Arvo community event at Lawnton Aquatic Centre, which commences at 2pm.
On the Gold Coast, a family-friendly event supported by the City of Gold Coast will be held following the region’s citizenship ceremony.
The 2025 Gold Coast Australia Day Celebrations will be held at the Home of the Arts (HOTA) outdoor stage from 4pm, with live music, food trucks, fireworks, and free activities for children.
Mayor Tom Tate said “The City of Gold Coast has always held citizenship ceremonies and community events on Australia Day and will continue to do so.”
At Noosa, locals will be able to celebrate Australia Day at the Lions Park on the foreshore of the Noosa River, at an event that is hosted by the Tewantin-Noosa Lions Club and sponsored by the Noosa Shire Council, as well as Woolworths.
The Noosa Australia Day Festival 2025 will be held from 10am and will feature activities including live music, children’s rides, face painting, while there will also be a variety of food vendors.
To the west at Ipswich, while Ipswich City Council has for several years held its Australia Day Awards in the lead up to Australia Day, with this year’s ceremony held on Wednesday, January 22, the council kept up its tradition of providing free entry to all council pools on January 26.
Ipswich City Council Mayor Teresa Harding said the council will also be holding a citizenship ceremony on Australia Day.
“One of the great joys of being Mayor of Ipswich is welcoming new citizens to our city, and to their new lives in Australia,” Cr Harding said.
“Ipswich City Council will be holding a citizenship ceremony on Australia Day and I look forward to conferring Australian citizenship to Ipswich’s newest residents.
“New Australians tell me all the time that receiving their Australian citizenship on Australia Day is especially moving and fills them with immense pride.
“Each year Ipswich City Council conducts citizenship ceremonies according to the guidance and requirements laid out by the Australian Government.
“Last year Ipswich warmly welcomed more than 2000 new citizens.
“This year, we anticipate that number to be around 3000, and we will be proud to welcome each and every one of them as new Australian citizens.”
Meanwhile at Toowoomba, locals are invited to attend Toowoomba Regional Council’s 2025 civic Australia Day award presentations and celebrations across the region.
The major Australia Day ceremony in the region will take place at Picnic Point, Toowoomba from 8.30am with the event including Australia Day affirmation and flag presentation, flag raising, national anthem, awards ceremony as well as free sausage sizzle, scones, flag tattoos and Dreamtime Games; from 9.30am.
Notably, the town of Oakey is hosting a community celebration from 7.30am that includes a free morning tea followed by activities including billy boiling, truck pull, thong throwing, tug-of-war, sack races, and the Oakey dunny race.
Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald said the community-run activities were a fitting way to mark the national day of Australia.
“I encourage residents to join the festivities marking our national day across the region,” Cr McDonald said.
“Regardless of where residents mark our national day, we continue to live in a special part of Australia.
“It is an occasion to reflect and celebrate the best aspects of living in Australia. We should not lose sight of our good fortune to live in this part of Australia.”
At Townsville, locals will be able to start the day with a run jog or a walk in the 5km Aussie Fun Run along Jezzine Barracks, followed by a free Aussie breakfast.
Australia Day formalities will then begin at 9am with the flag raising ceremony, followed by an awards ceremony and the citizenship ceremony.
While the City of Townsville is hosting official events, Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney said this Australia Day was focused on how each Townsville resident and visitor wanted to spend the day.
“Australia Day is a day that means a lot of different things to a lot of different people, which is why the council is encouraging all residents to reflect, respect and celebrate in their own way this year,” Cr Greaney said.
However, a major council in South East Queensland, the Sunshine Coast Council will not be running any events on Australia Day.
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesman said the “council is not running any events”.
Last year, the Sunshine Coast Council opted to replace its annual awards ceremony on Australia Day with the Biosphere Community Awards, which were held in June.
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