southburnett.com.au - What's On In The South Burnett

Australia Day 2025

Today is Australia Day which marks the date in 1788 when Captain Arthur Phillip and a group of British marines serving on the First Fleet hoisted the Union Flag at Sydney Cove in New South Wales, ushering in the start of European colonisation of the continent and the dispossession of its First Nations people. Australia Day was originally called Anniversary Day or Foundation Day and was largely a Sydney-based event, but it became a national holiday in 1994. And while the day's meaning and significance have evolved over time, it's now the day when our nation traditionally hands out Australia Day Awards to outstanding Australians who've made significant contributions to the nation, and also a day when many immigrants elect to receive their Australian citizenship.

This year most South Burnett towns and villages will be holding Australia Day events, and here's where they are:

Australia Day - Blackbutt

The Blackbutt Benarkin Lions Club and the Blackbutt District Community Organisation will be hosting a free community breakfast from 8:00am today at the Blackbutt Memorial Hall in Bowman Road, Blackbutt. There'll also be family-friendly fun and games.

Australia Day - Boondooma

Pursers Coaches will have a coach leaving Murgon this afternoon to take people to the Australia Day event at Boondooma Homestead. Cost is $5 per person for the bus, with pickups at Murgon RSL Club 3:00pm; Wondai Visitor Information Centre 3:15pm; and Proston Hall 3:45pm. Enjoy a barbecue at the historic homestead for $5.00, BYO alcohol. Soft drinks will be available to buy.

Australia Day - Hivesville

The Hivesville Progress Association will be hosting an Australia Day event in Memorial Park (opposite the Hivesville Hotel). There'll be a flag-raising ceremony at 7:00am followed by breakfast.

Australia Day - Kingaroy

Kingaroy's Australia Day event will be hosted by the Taabinga Lions Club at the Kingaroy Scout Den at 8 James Street, Kingaroy. The day will start at 7:00am with a free breakfast, cooked by the Kingaroy Rotary Club. There'll also be scones provided by the QCWA and damper by Kingaroy Scouts. At 9:00am, there'll be a flag-raising ceremony followed by the National Anthem and a South Burnett Regional Council Citizenship Ceremony. The morning will also include bush poetry, whip-cracking demonstrations and children's activities. Please BYO chairs.

Australia Day - Murgon

The Queensland Dairy & Heritage Museum, located in Sommerville Street, will be hosting Murgon's Australia Day event from 8:00am this morning. The day will start with a flag-raising ceremony followed by the presentation of Murgon's local Australia Day awards followed by morning tea.

Australia Day - Nanango

The Nanango Business Alliance is organising today's Australia Day event at Nanango Showgrounds. The day will start with a free breakfast at 7:00am followed by family entertainment including dog high jumps, a tug-o-war, thong and gumboot throwing and a monster truck pull. The day is being sponsored by Heritage Community Branch, Nanango; the Nanango Show Society, Sunpork and the South Burnett Regional Council.

Australia Day - Proston

The Proston QCWA will be marking Australia Day with fun and games from 10:00am this morning in the grounds surrounding their rooms in Rodney Street, Proston. There will be food, hot and cold drinks for sale and stalls. Dress up in your Australia Day finery!

Australia Day - Wondai

There's a couple of Australia Day events to choose from in Wondai today:

· Wondai Art Gallery will be hosting a breakfast and flag-raising from 7:00am. An art competition will be running throughout the day with music and prizes handed out at the end of the day.

· Wondai Amateur Swimming Club will be holding their annual Aussie Day Luau from 9:00am to 4:00pm today with music, food, lucky door prizes, raffles and races.

13th Kings Royal Speedway - Kingaroy

The third (and final) day of the three-day Kings Royal - the biggest annual event on the South Burnett Speedway Club's calendar - will be held at Kingaroy Showgrounds this afternoon and evening. Racing will start today at 4:00pm and continue until late tonight. As well as the lead-up races to the big final of the Kings Royal for Modifieds, there'll be Production Sedans in action. Admission today is $30 for adults, $25 for students (with ID) and aged or disability pensioners; or $85 for a family of two adults and up to two students (children 12 and under are free). Three-day passes are also available at discounted rates. There'll be canteen facilities operating onsite and camping is available, too.

Brooksy's Memorial Golf Day - Kingaroy

A Memorial Golf Day in memory of Ben Brooks will be held at the Kingaroy Golf Club on the Bunya Highway for golfers and non-golfers to help raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation Village in Brisbane. Tee-off is 9:30am. Cost is $90 per team for a three-person ambrose. To submit a team, phone John on 0439-420-213 or Emily on 0497-412-206. Afterwards, there'll be plenty of fun with competitions, a money board and other entertainment. The day will have an Australia Day dress theme and all you need bring are collapsible chairs or a picnic blanket. Everyone is welcome!

Bushrangers & Colonial Shoot - Wondai

Today is Day 2 of the Wondai Rifle Club's two-day Australia Day weekend shoot at the South Burnett Shooting Complex on Rifle Range Road in Wondai. The theme is "Australian Outlaw Bushrangers & Colonial" so shooters and visitors are invited to dress up to take part in the costume competition. For more information or to book ticket contact the club by email

Prawn On The Lawn - Moffatdale

Dusty Hill Vineyard will be marking Australia Day with prawns on the lawn and all-you-can-eat canapes from 4:00pm until late this afternoon. There'll also be cocktails and live music from The Piano Guy and Chris Bax Band. Cost is $129 a head for adults or $42 for children (15 years and younger). Children five and under are free. Bookings can be made online.

Kumbia Museum

The Kumbia and District Historical Society's museum, located in the Federation Heritage Centre behind Kumbia Hall in Bell Street, will be open from 1:30pm to 3:30pm this afternoon. The museum contains an excellent photographic display of local history and is well worth a visit. More details? Phone Gayle on (07) 4164-4175.