30 per cent of Victorian councils to ignore Australia Day in 2025
Despite new data showing most Aussies want to celebrate January 26, more than 30 per cent of Victoria’s councils will ignore the national day. See what your council is doing.
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More than 30 per cent of Victorian councils will opt to not celebrate Australia Day in any form, including hosting citizenship ceremonies, despite more and more people saying the January 26 date should not be changed.
The latest results of the Institute of Public Affairs’ annual poll of attitudes about the holiday revealed 69 per cent of Australians agreed with the statement, “Australia Day should be celebrated on January 26”.
But at least 25 Victorian councils — from inner Melbourne jurisdictions to those out in the regions — are still shying away from the national holiday.
It comes as Opposition Leader Peter Dutton announced he would, within the first 100 days of governing, mandate councils had to offer citizenship ceremonies on January 26, if elected.
This rule had previously been in place but was repealed in 2022 to allow councils to conduct citizenship ceremonies three days before or after Australia Day.
“It will be a sign of pride and nationalism in our country,” Mr Dutton said in a press conference on Monday, criticising Anthony Albanese for “signalling” Australia Day did not matter and celebrating was something to be ashamed of.
“Why the Prime Minister made a decision to stop councils or to allow the councils to stop holding Australia Day ceremonies on the 26th of January is beyond me.”
Among the councils ignoring Australia Day in 2025 are Yarra, Glen Eira, Colac Otway, Darebin, Maribyrnong, Strathbogie and Warrnambool.
Warrnambool mayor Ben Blain — whose jurisdiction does not acknowledge Australia Day on January 26 — said the council would do what was required by government if the rules changed.
“The Federal Government legislates the Australia Day holiday and the rules around citizenship ceremonies,” he said.
“Council abides by those rules.
“In recent years the Australian Government lifted its mandate to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26.
“Historically, Council hosted a large Australia Day celebration in the botanic gardens at considerable cost. Over time, fewer and fewer people attended this event which included a citizenship ceremony and presentation of Citizen of the Year awards.”
Instead, the council will hold an event prior to January 26.
“Council understands that there is a diversity of views about Australia Day,” Mr Blain said.
“People are free to celebrate or acknowledge Australia Day in a way they feel is appropriate.”
Meanwhile, on the other side of the state, Wellington Shire mayor said January 26 would be a “terrific day”.
“There’s events going on right around the shire for Australia Day … Although it does mark the end of the holiday season in many peoples eyes and that is always a bit sad,” he said.
“We’re definitely not one of the woke city councils.
“I’m not quite sure if I should say that, they’ll probably tell me off, but we certainly are not avoiding Australia Day in any sense. It’ll be celebrated far and wide.”
Nillumbik Shire mayor John Dumaresq said the council had “never really done anything for Australia Day”.
“We moved out citizenship ceremonies to January 29th a few years ago, but everyone in the shire seems to move towards the Mornington Peninsula at this time of year,” he said.
“We’ve never really done anything for the general community on Australia Day, the demand isn’t there – it’s still school holidays.”
Responding to Peter Dutton’s comments on the contentious change-the-date debate, Mr Dumaresq only said “good luck to him and good luck with the election”.
Mornington Peninsula mayor Anthony Marsh said he felt “great pride” in being part of citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day and loved helping to raise the flag in his home town of Mount Martha.
“I’ll be in Mount Martha in the morning, then off to Flinders for the council’s official citizenship ceremony and citizens of the year awards and then head to Sorrento to join in the celebrations at the RSL,” Mr Marsh said.
The day could have looked very different if the council had chosen another path in 2021 when former councillor Sarah Race — who plans to run as the Labor candidate for the federal seat of Flinders later this year — pushed for the Aboriginal flag to be lowered without consulting the community.
“Sometimes it is easier to seek forgiveness than permission when one is doing the right thing for the right reasons,” she argued at the time.
Ms Race said the region had “the fastest growing Indigenous population in Victoria” and revealed she had promised First Nation’s people she would “amplify their collective voice” in the council chamber.
Hindmarsh Shire Council Mayor Ron Ismay does a nearly 200km round trip to the four major towns in the council municipality on Australia Day.
“I attend all four Australia Day ceremonies, beginning with the Rainbow (Oasis) egg and bacon sandwich breakfast,” he said.
“There’s a Lions Club citizen of the year and also a shire citizen of the year ceremony – it’s lovely.”
Of Mr Dutton’s comments about mandatory Australia Day citizenship ceremonies, Mr Ismay said ceremonies “should be held whenever there is need for one”.
“It’s a fairly special day I think, and there are people who work in hospitality or are nurses or shift workers that public holidays don’t necessarily work for,” he said.
“We do a ceremony whenever people want one done, we often do one person at a time.
“I’m certainly not against having them on Australia Day, but we do ours all throughout the year.”
Yarra Ranges Council mayor Jim Child said it was a “privilege” to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26.
“As mayor I’m just absolutely privileged and honoured to be the first to welcome those people as Australians on Australia Day, I think it’s very important,” he said.
“We take a united approach, we have a local Indigenous elder that gives a Welcome to Country prior to the citizenship ceremony and then a citizen of the year award as well.”
Alpine Shire Council
There will be Australia Day events held in Harrietville, Bright and Mount Beauty.
The events will include barbecue breakfast, live entertainment, kids activities and award presentations.
Ararat Rural City Council
The council hosts an Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony and Australia Day Awards before its Party in the Park, a free community event.
Ballarat City Council
Ballarat City Council will be hosting an Australia Day Picnic in the Park at Victoria Park.
There will be food trucks and market stalls.
Banyule City Council
No citizenship ceremony, the council hosts one on January 29.
Bass Coast Shire Council
The council will host a citizenship ceremony.
Baw Baw Shire Council
Australia Day events will be held in 14 towns across the Baw Baw Shire Council.
There will be free community barbecues, flag raising ceremonies and citizenship ceremonies.
Bayside City Council
Bayside City Council will host a citizenship ceremony on Australia Day at the Brighton Town Hall.
Benalla Rural City Council
Benalla Rural City Council will host an Australia Day Awards and citizenship ceremony at the Benalla Town Hall.
Boroondara City Council
Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony followed by Australia Day Citizenship ceremony where citizen and young citizen of the year are also announced.
Borough of Queenscliffe Council
No events – council normally organises events around its citizenship ceremony, but this year there has been no request from the government for a ceremony.
Brimbank City Council
No events. Citizenship ceremonies will be January 23.
Buloke Shire Council
Buloke Shire Council will host an Australia Day Awards ceremony on January 24 at the Wycheproof Shire Council Hall.
Campaspe Shire Council
The Campaspe Citizen of the Year awards will be held in the week prior to Australia Day and will be invite only. There will be no events held on January 26.
Cardinia Shire Council
The Australia Day Awards for the Cardinia Shire Council will be presented in the week before Australia Day. There will be no events held on January 26.
Casey City Council
Citizenship ceremonies on January 26.
Central Goldfields Shire Council
Australia Day events will be held in Maryborough, Bealiba, Carisbrook, Daisy Hill, Dunolly and Talbot.
There will be a free barbecue, children's activities, citizenship ceremonies and Australia Day award ceremonies.
Colac Otway Shire Council
For the first time in recent years, the council will not hold a citizenship ceremony on January 26, instead opting for the ceremony to occur on January 23.
Corangamite Shire Council
The Australia Day Awards for the Corangamite Shire Council will be held at 10am at the Camperdown Theatre Royal.
Darebin City Council
No events on January 26. Citizenship ceremonies will be on January 29.
Greater Dandenong City Council
The Greater Dandenong City Council will host their 2025 Australia Day Awards on January 26.
East Gippsland Shire Council
East Gippsland Shire Council’s Australia Day Awards will be held on January 18 at Forest Park, Orbost. The council funds at least seven community events across the shire on Australia Day. It holds a citizenship ceremony on January 23.
Frankston City Council
Citizenship ceremony on January 26 at the Frankston Arts Centre.
Gannawarra Shire Council
There will be a citizenship ceremony on January 26.
The Gannawarra Shire Council’s Australia Day Awards will be announced in the week leading up to Australia Day.
Glen Eira City Council
Flags are flown at half-mast “as a mark of acknowledgment and show of support and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples”.
“We recognise Australia Day means different things for our diverse community,” a council spokesman said.
“Our focus is always on being an open and inclusive community where everyone feels safe and connected with pride.”
A citizenship ceremony will be held on January 29.
Glenelg Shire Council
No events listed on their website. In previous years, the council has supported events run by community groups.
No dates for citizenship ceremonies are included on the website.
Golden Plains Shire Council
The council supports community events including breakfasts and lists them on its website.
Greater Bendigo City Council
Greater Bendigo will host their citizenship ceremony on January 25 but will not host any events on Australia Day.
Greater Geelong City Council
Geelong will not celebrate Australia Day in 2024 but the new council, voted in November last year, has commissioned a report to consider reinstating celebrations from 2026.
Greater Shepparton City Council
Having previously not held events, Greater Shepparton Council last year voted to establish a Shepparton Australia Day committee to deliver an event on January 26, starting this year
However, it continues to advocate to government to change the date, and provide financial and in-kind support for the Survival Day Dawn Ceremony.
The council lowers the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander flags to half-mast on January 26.
Hepburn Shire Council
The Hepburn Shire Council will host their community awards ceremony on January 24 at the Loddon River Room.
Hindmarsh Shire Council
The Hindmarsh Shire Council helps run all Australia Day events in the shire, with local groups hosting the events every year.
Citizenship ceremonies are held if there are residents wanting to become citizens.
Hobsons Bay City Council
Council will host the annual Australia Day Hobsons Bay Citizenship Ceremony for 140 new residents and announce its 2025 citizens of the year.
It has also partly funded Altona City Rotary Club’s Millennium Time Capsule project.
The contents of the Millennium Time Capsules will be displayed by the club on Australia Day at the Central Square Shopping Centre.
Horsham Rural City Council
The Australia Day Awards will be held at Sawyer Park in Horsham on January 26.
Hume City Council
Hume City Council will be holding Australia Day in the Park in Sunbury at the Village Green at 4pm.
It will include family fun day, musical performances by local artists and roving entertainment for families, as well as a sausage sizzle.
Indigo Shire Council
Events are held across Indigo Shire on January 26, including in Beechworth, Barnawartha, Chiltern, Kiewa, Tangambalanga, Rutherglen, Wahgunyah, and Yackandandah.
Kingston City Council
Hosting a citizenship ceremony in the morning of Australia Day and supporting the Mordialloc Summer Festival fireworks at 9.30pm, Peter Scullin Reserve, Mordialloc.
A Welcome to Country to be performed at 4pm.
Knox City Council
There will be three citizenship ceremonies to be performed on the morning of Australia Day.
Latrobe City Council
Council is hosting a citizenship ceremony.
Loddon Shire Council
Events will be held across Loddon Shire including in Boort, Bridgewater on Loddon, Dingee, Eddington, Inglewood, Newbridge, Pyramid Hill, Tarnagulla and Wedderburn.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council
The Macedon Ranges Shire Council will not host an event but the Rotary Club of Woodend will.
The event will be held at the Woodend RSL and will include a free lunch and live music.
Manningham City Council
The Manningham City Council will host a citizenship ceremony at the Manningham Function Centre at 10am on January 26.
Mansfield Shire Council
An Australia Day celebration will be held at the Botanic Park in Mansfield.
There will be a citizenship ceremony, flag raising ceremony, Australia Day Awards, entertainment and a free barbecue breakfast.
Maribyrnong City Council
No events and flags again lowered to half mast as council acknowledges a day of mourning.
Maroondah City Council
The Maroondah City Council will host an awards and citizenship ceremony on January 26 at Ringwood Lake Park.
There will be live performances, kids activities and rides and a sausage sizzle.
Melbourne City Council
A citizenship ceremony will be held on January 26.
There will be a day of free family-friendly activities, food and music at Fed Square.
Melton City Council
Citizenship ceremonies will be held on both January 24 and January 26 due to incredibly high numbers — almost 1000 people will become Aussies.
Merri-bek City Council
No events.
Mildura Rural City Council
Mildura Rural City Council is hosting its flagship event at Nowingi Place on Hugh King Drive, Mildura, from 8am to 11.30am.
The event will feature a free breakfast supplied by Lions Club, with live entertainment and coffee vans as well.
Mildura Council’s Australia Day award winners will also be announced during the event.
Mitchell Shire Council
An Australia Day ceremony will be held at the Wandong Public Hall.
There will be a free hot breakfast, flag raising ceremony and Australia Day Awards.
Moira Shire Council
Moira Shire Council will host six Australia Day events in Yarrawonga, Cobram, Catamite, Barmah, Nathalia, Tungamah and Numurkah. They will include free barbecues, entertainment and award presentations.
Monash City Council
Monash Council will host a citizenship ceremony on January 26, as many people request for their ceremony to be held on this date, a spokesman said.
Moonee Valley City Council
The Moonee Valley City Council will host the annual Bunjil’s Marroun Healing Ceremony and a citizenship ceremony on January 26.
The event will be held at Queens Park, Moonee Ponds and will include an acknowledgement of country, speakers and live performances.
Moorabool Shire Council
Moorabool Shire Councils Australia Day ceremony will be held at the Ballan Mechanics Institute on January 26.
There will be an award ceremony, citizenship ceremony, live entertainment and a town crier.
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
Australia Day will be celebrated on the Dromana foreshore with performers, activities, displays, presentations and a free breakfast.
Mount Alexander Shire Council
Mount Alexander Shire Council will host their Australia Day event at Victory Park, Castlemaine.
There will be a citizenship and awards ceremony, free catering from local business and a Survival Day concert. The event will run from 10am to 2pm.
Moyne Shire Council
Did not reply to questions and has no events listed on website.
Murrindindi Shire Council
No events organised by the council, community celebrations receive funding and promotional support.
Nillumbik Shire Council
No events.
Council has recently made a decision to no longer hold a citizenship ceremony on January 26 in line with the Government’s decision to not have to hold this event on a public holiday. Council also endorsed a change to the awards and has been running the Nillumbik Community Awards in August each year for the last two years.
Northern Grampians Shire Council
The Northern Grampians Shire Council will host two Australia Day events.
The first event will be held in Market Square, St Arnaud at 8am and the second event will be held at Central Park, Stawell at 5pm.
There will be an awards ceremony, citizenship ceremony and free food provided.
Port Phillip City Council
The Boonwurrung Land and Sea Council, in partnership with City of Port Phillip, will host the annual We-Akon Dilinja (Mourning Reflection) on January 26 at Alfred Square, St Kilda.
A citizenship ceremony will be held afterwards.
Pyrenees Shire Council
Celebrations hosted by the council, Lexton Community Hub and support from Australia Day Council, include citizenship ceremony, citizens of the year, BBQ lunch, social cricket match, free family fun.
South Gippsland Shire Council
Citizenship ceremony and citizens of the year, Australia Day photo competition winner announced, and other community events across the region.
Southern Grampians Shire Council
Australia Day celebrations at the Hamilton Botanic Gardens.
Stonnington City Council
The City of Stonnington will host its fourth annual Healing Ceremony, following the Citizenship Ceremony on January 26 at Malvern Cricket Ground (11.45am to 1.15pm).
“The community is invited to attend the Healing Ceremony with our Traditional Custodians, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation, to pay respect and acknowledge their living connection to Country, relationship with the land and all living things extending back tens of thousands of years,” a spokesman said.
Strathbogie Shire Council
From 2024, the council no longer formally supports January 26 celebrations and deems events on Australia Day to be ineligible for any council sponsorship or funding.
Surf Coast Shire Council
Pilk Purriyn is a truth-telling event presented by Wadawurrung traditional owners Aboriginal Corporation in partnership with Surf Coast Shire Council.
It is held at 5.30am on January 26.
Citizenship ceremonies will be held on January 23.
Swan Hill Rural City Council
Swan Hill is hosting a two-day extravaganza to celebrate Australia Day beginning on January 25 with Citizenship Ceremonies and Australia Day Award Ceremonies in Robinvale and Swan Hill.
On Sunday the popular Australia Day Breakfast returns to Riverside Park from 7am to 10am.
Towong Shire Council
Towong Shire has many events listed on its website from across the region for Australia Day where they will celebrate the people and organisations who have made extraordinary contributions throughout the past year.
Events include a breakfast and ceremony at The Triangles in Tallangatta from 8.30am and a similar event kicking off at the same time at the Lake Hume Boat Shed in Bellbridge.
Other breakfasts and ceremonies will take place at Corryong, Mitta Valley, and the Walwa Memorial Hall.
Wangaratta Rural City Council
The Rural City of Wangaratta is hosting an event at King George V Gardens on Ovens St from 9am on January 26 where their Australia Day award winners will be announced and a citizenship ceremony will take place.
Warrnambool City Council
There will be no events on January 26 but a combined awards and citizenship ceremony before the day.
Wellington Shire Council
Australia Day events abound in the Wellington Shire on January 26.
Highlights include a party in the carpark at the Gippy Hotel from 1pm on January 26 to the Sale Australia Day celebrations which kick off at 9.30am on the same day and will include a flag-raising ceremony a rendition of the national anthem and a citizenship ceremony presided over by Wellington Shire mayor Scott Rossetti.
There will also be events at The Glen Pub, Maffra, Cowwarr, Gormandale and Mann’s Beach and more.
West Wimmera Shire Council
West Wimmera Shire Council is supporting numerous events throughout the community that are being organised by local community groups.
Each event will feature Australia Day Awards presented by a councillor.
Events across the region include barbecues, guest speakers, and entertainment, with activities starting at 8am in Edenhope, Goroke, and Kaniva, and 11am in Apsley, Dergholm, and Harrow.
Whitehorse City Council
The fireworks are back for the annual Australia Day Concert.
Whittlesea City Council
A petition was tabled at a council meeting in Feb 2024 signed by community members wanting events organised for Australia Day
Wodonga City Council
Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Community Organisation of the Year will be recognised in a ceremony held on January 26.
The nearby Albury council will return to holding a citizenship ceremony on January 26, while its Albury Awards will be announced at an event in the evening on January 25.
Wyndham City Council
There will be a family friendly free celebration with live music, food trucks, face painting and craft activities.
Yarra City Council
Yarra council has not celebrated Australia Day since 2018.
Yarra Ranges Shire Council
Citizenship ceremonies will be held on January 26.
Yarriambiack Shire Council
Yarriambiack Shire Australia Day celebrations are led by community groups.
No citizenship ceremonies are held.
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