‘Like nothing you’ve ever seen’: Perth Australia Day skyshow ramps up as ‘public appetite’ for event returns

Two tonnes of fireworks are being loaded onto nine barges on the Swan River in preparation for this year’s Australia Day Perth skyshow.

More than 100,000 people are expected to line more than one kilometre of foreshore from Langley Park for the annual half-hour fireworks and drone show on January 26.

Fireworks have long been the focal point of Perth’s Australia Day skyshow.Credit: City of Perth

Rob Cardile of Cardile fireworks said the display had tripled in size this year, with new pyrotechnics designed especially for the location.

“Last year we had three main positions on the river and this year it’s going to be nine, so we’re going to increase it by three-fold,” he said.

“It’s going to stretch one kilometre along the length of the river – so it’s going to be bigger, and it’s going to be more creative, and it’s going to be, overall, a bigger spectacle than ever before.”

“It’ll be something never seen before in Perth.”

While attendance at Australia Day events has waned in recent years – as COVID and the campaign to change the date saw numbers down from the 300,000-strong crowd of 2019 – City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas said community sentiment was shifting back towards the traditional date.

“There’s no doubt, the public appetite for Australia Day on January 26 has increased,” he said.

“I think people are feeling more confident, people are feeling more comfortable and in fact, people are more determined to be able to fly their Australian colours on Australia Day.

“I’m very pleased to see people pushing back towards January 26 – I’m very pleased and proud.”

This year has seen a large swing of local governments moving citizenship ceremonies back to January 26 after a break in tradition following the federal government’s move to allow councils to hold citizenship ceremonies in the three days before and after.

Australia Day events across Perth

City of South Perth - Australia Day Morning Ceremony & Great Aussie Breakfast. Sunday 26 January. 8am - 9.30am. Citizenship ceremony at Sir James Mitchell Park, Flag Pole Site (opposite Forrest St), South Perth Foreshore followed by Great Aussie Breakfast 9.30-10.30am.

City of Rockingham - Celebrate Australia Day Sunday, 26 January. 5pm – 8.45pm. Churchill Park and Bell Park, Rockingham Foreshore. Fireworks display, stage performances, roaming entertainment, children’s activities, amusement rides, food vendors and more.

City of Cockburn - Australia Day Coogee Beach Festival Sunday 26 January. 8am to midday. Coogee Beach Reserve. Free water slides and splash zone, Big Wave mechanical surfboard, face painting, mermaids and pirates, Jetty DJ and sausage sizzle.

A range of free entertainment at Langley Park starts at 3pm with the Reflect, Respect and Celebrate film dome and Birak concert at Supreme Court Gardens.

There will also be freestyle motocross and BMX stunt shows and skydiving display at 6.50pm.

The fireworks and drone show will begin at 8.30pm.

Police Commissioner Col Blanch said while previous Australia Day crowds had been well-behaved, police would be out in force.

“Police will be out in full force, ensuring that those that want to have a good time are able to have it with the freedom that they deserve,” he said.

“Anyone that wants to play up, well, they’ll be talking to a constable pretty quick.”

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