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Australia Day 2026

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

Blackbutt Benarkin Lions Club is hosting a free community breakfast from 8:00am to noon today at the Blackbutt Showgrounds. There'll be bacon and egg rolls and sausages on bread as well as family fun activities including gumboot and Crocs throwing, a tug-o-war and live entertainment by David Lynch. At the Radnor Hotel, the pub will be putting on live music from noon with Brisbane pub band Bang Lasso. There'll also be a pie-eating competition, face painting for the kids and best-dressed prizes!

Australia Day - Boondooma

Historic Boondooma Homestead, at 8262 Mundubbera-Durong Road, will be marking Australia Day from 4:30pm this afternoon with an acknowledgment of local awards winners, a $5:00 barbecue dinner and live entertainment by vocalist Louise Winton.

Australia Day - Bunya Mountains

Residents and visitors are invited to BYO camp chair, a plate to share and drinks at 5:00pm this evening to Fishers Lookout on Bunya Mountains Road at Mt Mowbullan to watch the sunset.

Australia Day - Cooyar

The Cooyar Hotel, at 35 McDougall Street, will be marking Australia Day with a string of activities, including Aussie music all day with a live DJ. Lunch will be available from 11:30am to 2:00pm with the fun starting at 3:00pm including cow and calf roping, the pub's famous horizontal bungee, a lamington-eating competition, stubby holder stacking, thong relay, air guitar competition and a beer tray obstacle course. A free sausage sizzle will begin at 6:00pm. More info? Phone the hotel on (07) 4692-6220.

Australia Day - Hivesville

The monthly Hivesville Country Markets will be held at the Hivesville Sportsground (in Edwards Lane, Hivesville) from 7:00am to around noon this morning. These family-friendly markets are usually held on the 4th Sunday of every month (except December) but have been moved this month to coincide with Australia Day! They feature a variety of stalls including fresh local farm produce, plants, crafts and lots of food. New stallholders are very welcome, too!

Australia Day - Kingaroy

Taabinga Lions Club is hosting Kingaroy's official Australia Day event today at Memorial Park. The day will kick off at 7:00am with a free breakfast, followed by the opening ceremony at 8:00am and a Citizenship Ceremony at 9:00am. Novelty activities will include lamington making, Vegemite sandwich and fairy bread making as well as the traditional cooee and thong-throwing competitions. There'll also be displays of classic and vintage vehicles and emergency services vehicles. Tea, coffee and scones will be available. Entertainment will be provided by Natalie Fenton, Amber Goldsmith and members of Sing Australia. The Carrollee Hotel, in King Street, also has Australia Day events planned to happen from noon, including a pie-eating contest, Vegemite eating, a kids' colouring-in competition and live music from The Bucket Boys.

Australia Day - Kumbia

There'll be Australia Day activities in and around the Kumbia Memorial Hall from 10:00am this morning. There'll be damper, lamingtons and a sausage sizzle to enjoy as well as an opportunity to check out the upgrades to the hall. The Heritage Federation Centre museum will also be open for visitors to explore local history.

Australia Day - Murgon

The Murgon Business & Development Association will be holding their annual Australia Day awards and morning tea from 8:00am this morning at the Queensland Dairy & Heritage Museum at 2 Sommerville Street, Murgon. Guest speaker will be Murgon State High School Deputy Principal Morgan Suchoronczak.

Australia Day - Nanango

The Nanango Business Alliance is hosting its traditional Australia Day activities again today at Nanango Showgrounds. The program will get under way at 6:45am with a medley of Australian songs by Peter Thomson, a free breakfast from 7:00am, followed by push poetry by Bruce Webb and Wendy Mathews, acknowledgement of local Australia Day winners and a flag-raising ceremony at 8:30am. The fun competitions will begin at 9:00am with dog jumping, thong throwing, a tug-o-war, gumboot throwing and a truck pull. Other Australia Day activities in Nanango will be at the Commercial Hotel, 69 Drayton Street, and the South Burnett Western Performance Club on Racecourse Road. The Commercial Hotel will have activities from 1:00pm including mud crab racing, an Aussie food eating competition and live music from 2:00pm with Mr Q. The South Burnett Western Performance Club will be hosting a fun-filled day of horse activities, novelty events and games from 8:30am. Cost is $20 for members or $30 for non-members, which includes morning tea and a barbecue lunch. For catering numbers, phone Wendy on 0474-817-535.

Australia Day - Proston

CANCELLED The monthly Proston Community Markets - usually held on the 3rd Saturday of each month - will be running today outside the QCWA Rooms at Railway Park in Rodney Street, Proston from 7:00am this morning. Stalls feature crafts, plants as well as gifts and bric-a-brac. There'll also be a raffle, sausage sizzle and hot and cold drinks. All stalls welcome!

Australia Day - Wondai

Wondai Regional Art Gallery will be hosting Australia Day activities from 7:00am today. First up, there'll be breakfast available accompanied by music from the Wondai Town & District Band. Local artists will be helping out community residents to paint canvasses or boomerangs in The Studio. In the evening, there'll be pizzas and music from 6:00pm. Also in Wondai, the local Community Share group will be hosting a share at the Lions Den (in the Wondai Showgrounds on the Bunya Highway) from 9:00am, followed by games of Mölkky and Bocce at Dingo Park. At noon, sausages, onions and bread will be available for lunch, but please bring a plate of food to share as well as chairs, cutlery, drinks etc.

Australia Day - Yarraman

Yarraman is hosting this year's Toowoomba Regional Council Australia Day Rosalie awards at the Yarraman Memorial Hall in Browne Street. There'll be a free community breakfast at 8:00am followed by the awards at 9:00am. There'll also be children's activities, face-painting and live entertainment. There'll also be Australia Day activities at the Royal Hotel in Yarraman, including a Fijian lovo (like a Maori hangi) and a tug-o-war. Phone the pub on (07) 4163-8219 for more information about its event.