Celebrate Aussie spirit at South Perth Foreshore on Australia Day

The City of South Perth invites the community to an inclusive, family-friendly celebration at Sir James Mitchell Park, South Perth Foreshore on Australia Day, Sunday 26 January 2020.

Our Australia Day events and Celebration Zone, supported by Lotterywest, offer the chance for the community to enjoy the day in a safe, alcohol and smoke free environment.

This year’s celebrations, which begin in the morning and run until 7.30pm in time for the City of Perth Skyworks, provide an opportunity for Western Australians to come together to raise their spirits – and also raise funds – in what has been a difficult time for Australia.

In support of the national bushfire disaster, the City of Perth will have volunteers out and about collecting donations via EFTPOS and cash on the day, to be donated to a nominated national bushfire appeal.

The day’s events begin with the Australia Day Morning Ceremony from 8am at Sir James Mitchell Park, which includes one of the City’s largest Citizenship Ceremonies to date, welcoming 205 conferees as local residents. Additionally, the Auspire – Australia Day Council of WA Community Citizen of the Year Awards and the Ted Maslen Memorial University Exhibition Award will be presented to the City of South Perth resident who achieved the highest ATAR score within the metro area. 

This will be followed by the Great Aussie Breakfast from 9.30-10.30am, and the Celebration Zone from 3-7.30pm, which includes a range of activities for the whole family.

City of South Perth Mayor Greg Milner said it was fitting to welcome new citizens and recognise local volunteers at the Australia Day celebrations, while also acknowledging those affected by the devasting bushfires still raging across parts of the country.

“We are incredibly fortunate to be living in this wonderful land - but we must remember that many Australians are doing it tough right now,” Mayor Milner said. 

“Our thoughts and prayers are with our friends over east, who have shown extraordinary resilience and courage.

“In the midst of disaster, we see Australians rise to the challenge – from our brave firefighters, to those opening their homes and hearts to others who have lost homes, to people from all walks of life digging deep and contributing funds to help their fellow Australians. That is who we are and that is what we do. That is the Australian spirit, and that is what we are celebrating on Australia Day. 

“I hope the City’s events raise everyone’s spirits, remind us of the beauty of this country and inspire people to continue doing all they can to support those in need.

“Our Australia Day events and Celebration Zone, supported by Lotterywest, give the opportunity for people to come together and enjoy Australia Day in a safe, alcohol and smoke free environment. We encourage people to use public transport on the day, and a free shuttle service will be running to help provide easy access.”

All Australia Day information, including event details, transport and parking, and local resident information, can be found on the City's website on the Australia Day page. 

You can also follow the City’s social media channels for updates - @CityofSouthPerth on Facebook and Instagram, and @CitySouthPerth on Twitter – and tag any photos with #discoversouthperth or #ausdaysouthperth. 

Morning Ceremony

8-9.30am
Sir James Mitchell Park, South Perth (opposite Forrest St)
Free

Highlights include: 

• One of the largest Citizenship Ceremonies to date with 205 conferees to become citizens. Last year the City welcomed a total of 390 conferees throughout the year, so this number is incredibly significant and increases the strength of our community. The ceremony is attended by representatives from both state and federal governments.
• Presentation of the Auspire – Australia Day Council of WA Community Citizen of the Year Awards and the Ted Maslen Award for the City of South Perth resident who achieved the highest ATAR score within the metro area. 

Great Aussie Breakfast

The Rotary Club of Como provides a BBQ breakfast with a choice of fruit and cup of tea, coffee, juice or water. All funds raised go back to the local community.

Celebration Zone

3-7.30pm
Sir James Mitchell Park, South Perth (opposite Forrest St)
Free

Presented by the City of South Perth and supported by Lotterywest, the Australia Day Celebration Zone returns with an extensive program of events for the whole family, a range of food vendors and shade and picnic areas. 

New additions in 2020 include: 

• A vintage game and activities theme at the Celebration Zone, including Carpet Ball, Jacks Table, Marble Tables, Wooden Shuffle Boards, Bumper Billiard, Fake Strong Man Weight Lifting and lots of old giant board games. 
• Vintage acrobat circus, vintage musicians, puppeteers bringing old fairytales to life and a fortune teller to amaze and astound. 
• A new giant toddler music park, with a range of brightly coloured, life-size musical instruments to play.
• Competitions including a Guessing Booth, vintage wheel of fortune, and ‘guess what’ that exhibits a range of items from years gone by.

Australia Day important information

Free Event Transport Service

To facilitate access to the City of South Perth Celebration Zone, the City will be providing a free shuttle service between:

• George Burnett Leisure Centre (GBLC), Manning Rd, cnr Elderfield Rd, Karawara
• The City of South Perth Civic Centre, cnr Sandgate St and South Tce, South Perth
• The Celebration Zone.

The shuttle buses will run approximately every 10 minutes back and forth between 2-9.30pm, but not during the fireworks (7.30-8.30pm).

All shuttle buses will be fully accessible for passengers with wheelchairs, prams or mobility devices while the Celebration Zone will include accessible matting for people with disability, walkers, prams and strollers. There will also be an information tent, first aid and lost child point, various activity zones, a food court and accessible toilets.

Both GBLC and the Civic Centre are easily accessible from the Kwinana Freeway and have ample parking facilities.

Bicycles

A temporary exclusion zone will be established on the South Perth foreshore near Ellam Street for 16 days leading up to and immediately after the event, which will require a temporary closure of the riverside pedestrian footpath.

Signage and detours will be installed at the site to advise the public how to access the alternate footpath available at the site. The path will be closed from Wednesday 15 January to Thursday 30 January. 

Please note that additionally some sections of the cycle path along the South Perth Foreshore will be diverted from 7am to midnight on Australia Day.

Bicycle parking is available inside the Celebration Zone (opposite Forrest Street). Don’t forget to bring a bike lock.

Driving

Visitors to the Australia Day Celebration Zone are strongly encouraged to use public transport.

The Kwinana Freeway exit ramps (northbound and southbound) and the roads bounded by Labouchere Road, Angelo Street, Douglas Avenue, Canning Highway and Ellam Street will be closed from 12pm to 10.30pm.

On-Demand Transport Vehicles

Between 12-10.30pm on Australia Day, on-demand transport services (such as taxis, Uber, Ola, Chofer, Shebah and other vehicle charter companies) will not be permitted to drop off or pick up riders in the Access Restricted Area.

Likewise, food delivery services (such as Domino’s, Uber Eats, Menulog, Coles and Woolworths) will not be allowed to deliver food by car inside the area.

To accommodate our residents, Australia Day visitors and the on-demand services, the City will set up a temporary pick up and drop off area inside the City’s Windsor Park car park off Labouchere Road.

Parking 

There will be a parking restricted area (blue on the map) in operation during the event to ensure sufficient access for emergency vehicles. 

Residents or guests who ordinarily park on the road or verge (this includes your crossover - the area of driveway between the road and your property line), must observe the temporary parking signs.

Resident access

Local residents who live close to or in the Australia Day event zone should be aware there are considerable traffic and parking changes for 2020.  

In the Access Restricted Area (yellow on the map), roads will be closed from 12pm to 10.30pm on Sunday 26 January 2020. 

You do not need a special permit to enter the Access Restricted Area but you will be asked to present a valid driver’s licence listing your current address. 

You will need to apply for permits for your visitors. Please note there is to be no parking on any street, verge or crossover, or in the street. 

For all the details, visit the Australia Day page on the City's website. 

Penalties & Infringements

Double penalties apply to all City of South Perth infringements issued on Australia Day 2020 - please check signs before parking.

Illegally parked vehicles within the Parking Restricted Area will be towed and impounded.

Items not allowed on the South Perth Foreshore

• For safety reasons please do not bring large objects (greater than 1.5m) into the event zone as they will be impounded
• Please do not bring glass containers into the event zone
• Drones are not permitted to fly over populous areas. Please don’t bring your drone to the Australia Day celebrations in South Perth. For more information visit www.casa.gov.au.

Impounded Goods

Collection of impounded goods can be arranged from 28 January 2020 during business hours by phoning the City’s Ranger Services on 9474 0777.

Full details about the Australia Day program including free event shuttle, road closures, ACROD parking and more are available on the Australia Day page on the City's website. 

Thank you

The City of South Perth would like to thank all individual volunteers and community organisations for their commitment, enthusiasm and support of the Celebration Zone:

• South Perth Youth Network (SPYN)
• Girl Guides Western Australia Inc.
• Rotary Clubs of South Perth, Burswood and Como
• Soroptimist International of South Perth

Community Partner

• Preston Street IGA

Supported by

• Lotterywest