January 21, 2026
The countdown is on to the Australia Day long weekend, and as usual there’s heaps of activities happening around the South Burnett region!
South Burnett Regional Council will be presenting the region’s 18th annual Australia Day Awards in a special ceremony at Proston Town Hall in Rodney Street, Proston, from 3:00pm, on Sunday (January 25).
As usual, the awards ceremony is being held on the eve of Australia Day to allow all nominees and attendees the chance to participate in the many Australia Day activities happening on January 26.
The awards provide the community with an opportunity to acknowledge outstanding groups and individuals committed to improving the lifestyle of our region.
The special guest speaker this year will be Australia Day Ambassador Carmel Crouch AM.
Carmel founded the not-for-profit disability employment and training group STEPS more than 30 years ago as a small organisation to provide young people with a disability opportunities for workplace participation and independence.
Since then, it has grown into a large organisation which helps many people strive for a brighter future.
All South Burnett residents are invited to attend the Proston awards ceremony, and enjoy the free afternoon tea afterwards.
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A highlight for many South Burnett residents is the annual Australia Day citizenship ceremony.
Citizenship ceremonies are held in the South Burnett throughout the year, but many new citizens elect to do it in a special way on January 26.
This year’s event will be held in Kingaroy’s Memorial Park from 9:00am on Monday, presided over by Mayor Kathy Duff.
Thirteen local residents will join the thousands of migrants across the country becoming Australian citizens on the day.
“This is an exciting moment for Australia’s newest citizens, and a time in their life that many will cherish and remember for years to come,” Mayor Duff said.
“I encourage everyone to participate in local Australia Day activities and use this opportunity to reflect on what it means to be an Australian citizen with our shared values, our national history and our multicultural nation.”
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Australia Day Around The Region
This is what’s happening around the South Burnett on January 26:
(NB. If we’ve missed an event, please email us the information and we will add it to our Daily Calendar)
Blackbutt
- Blackbutt Benarkin Lions Club is hosting a free community breakfast from 8:00am to noon 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!
Bunya Mountains
- Residents and visitors are invited to BYO camp chair, a plate to share and drinks at 5:00pm to Fishers Lookout on Bunya Mountains Road at Mt Mowbullan to watch the sunset.
Boondooma
- Historic Boondooma Homestead, at 8262 Mundubbera-Durong Road, will be marking Australia Day from 4:30pm with an acknowledgment of local awards winners, a $5:00 barbecue dinner and live entertainment by vocalist Louise Winton.
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.
Hivesville
- The monthly Hivesville Country Markets will be held at the Hivesville Sportsground (in Edwards Lane, Hivesville) from 7:00am to around noon. 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.
Kingaroy
- Taabinga Lions Club is hosting Kingaroy’s official Australia Day event 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 service 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.
Kumbia
- There’ll be Australia Day activities in and around the Kumbia Memorial Hall from 10:00am. 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.
Murgon
- The Murgon Business & Development Association will be holding their annual Australia Day awards and morning tea from 8:00am at the Queensland Dairy & Heritage Museum at 2 Sommerville Street, Murgon. Guest speaker will be Murgon State High School Deputy Principal Morgan Suchoronczak.
Nanango
- The Nanango Business Alliance is hosting its traditional Australia Day activities 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.
- The Commercial Hotel, at 69 Drayton Street, 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, in Racecourse Road, 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.
Wondai
- Wondai Regional Art Gallery will be hosting Australia Day activities from 7:00am. 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.
- The Wondai 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 bring a plate of food to share as well as chairs, cutlery, drinks etc.
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 Australia Day awards at 9:00am. There’ll also be children’s activities, face-painting and live entertainment.
- At the Royal Hotel, there’ll be a Fijian lovo (like a Maori hangi) and a tug-o-war. Phone the pub on (07) 4163-8219 for more information.
NB. Check out our Daily Calendar for events on Saturday and Sunday
