Australia Day celebrations in Adelaide are changing. Adelaide residents now have the chance to celebrate the holiday for two days only on January 26th. Adelaide City Council introduced the system for the first time this year. They have confirmed that they will continue the two-day celebration in 2024, aiming to make it inclusive and appealing to all.
The Aus Lights on the River 2024 program is being organized by the Australia Day Council of South Australia (ADCSA). Has received support from both the State Government and Adelaide City Council. It offers a range of activities such as performances, sound installations, family-friendly events, a parade and a solemn “morning of mourning” smoking ceremony led by Uncle Mugi Sumner, a respected cultural leader of the Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna communities.
This series of events will be held from 25th January to 26th January. More than 33,000 participants are expected. The program was carefully designed in collaboration with First Nations people to evaluate their input. ADCSA CEO Jan Chorley stressed that developing the program involved engaging with groups including business leaders and First Nations representatives, as well as seeking feedback from the wider Australian community. This collective effort demonstrates an approach that prioritizes inclusion and represents a departure from observance. The unique and inclusive way Adelaide has come to celebrate Australia Day serves as an example of a respectful observance, especially as the nation reflects on the timing and importance of the day. Promoting harmony and empathy within the community, this growing commemoration aligns with ongoing conversations about the cultural sensibility and significance of Australia Day.
Various dates have been suggested to replace Australia Day, challenging the January 26 celebration. Some suggested options include January 1 (Federation Date), May 8 (which sounds like “mate”), May 26 (National Day of Regret), or any day that marks the end of summer. There are also Australians who argue for not having a day given the colonial history. According to Jane Lydon, a history expert at the University of Western Australia, the change is gaining traction among Australians as public debate on the issue has intensified in recent years. This growing dialogue reflects a debate on history and an acknowledgment of diverse perspectives, particularly those of First Nations.
Despite these discussions and proposals for change, Australia Day is still widely celebrated across the country on 26 January. Formal celebrations usually take place in the morning. Organized by governments and citizen groups. The day is marked with events such as picnics, parades and fireworks in cities including Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Given the significance of this celebration, crowd control measures and local road closures as well as enhanced security measures are expected to be implemented to ensure safety during the festival.
Australia Day
Tribal groups and their supporters plan to hold “Day of Invasion” rallies in cities and other locations across the country. The following locations are likely to have the largest protests
and time:
Adelaide: Victoria Square 11:00
Brisbane: Participants will gather at Queen’s Gardens at 09:00 before heading to Musgrave.
the park
Canberra: Garema Place 09:30
Darwin: Civic Park 08:30
Hobart: Activists will gather at the Tasmanian Aboriginal Center at 11.15am before marching
Parliament Lawn at 12:00.
MELBOURNE: Supporters will gather at Victoria Parliament House at 10am before marching
Flinders Street Station.
Perth: Forest Place 12:30
Sydney: Activists will meet at Belmore Park at 10:00 and march into the city.
Depending on the location, the size of the participation in the demonstration is expected to vary from several thousand to thousands of people. More police officers are likely to be present near the venue and local traffic will be disrupted. Indigenous groups and activists in the territories may try to block mainstream Australia Day commemorations. Although most of the events are expected to be peaceful, clashes between protesting groups are likely.