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EXPERIENCE AUSTRALIA DAY 2017 AT BARANGAROO RESERVE

Announcement posted by Access Public Relations 17 Jan 2017

Thursday 26 January 2017 – 7:30am-5pm

Australia Day in Barangaroo Reserve provides visitors with a unique chance to experience and learn about Sydney’s Aboriginal heritage and Australia’s shared history, combined with a full day of free family-friendly activities and entertainment.

"If you are looking for a day with a difference, where you can come together and experience our shared history, celebrate the world’s oldest living culture and contemplate an inclusive future for all Australians, then Barangaroo Reserve is the place to do it," said Clarence Slockee, Aboriginal educator and head of Visitor Services at Barangaroo.

Barangaroo Reserve will host the launch event for Australia Day in Sydney. At 7:30am a fire will arrive in Marrinawi Cove, transported by nawi (canoe) from Me-mel (Goat Island). A procession will escort the fire from Marrinawi Cove to Walumil Lawns. A smoking ceremony will then take place at 7:45am to prepare for the symbolic WugulOra Morning Ceremony from 8:05-8:25am, with views of the Aboriginal and Australian flag raising on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

WugulOra, meaning ‘One Mob’ in the Sydney area Aboriginal language, is a special moment to begin Australia Day by acknowledging our shared history and Traditional Custodians. The ceremony will feature a dance performance by NSW Public Schools Aboriginal Dance Company, followed by Kari Choir singing the National Anthem in local language. It will also feature 250 voices singing Budjari Gunyalungalung Baraya-la (‘Let’s Sing Good Dreaming’), as part of the Sydney Festival’s Bayala-Baraya: Sing Up Country program to reawaken and reforge the songlines of Sydney in a performance for Country, ancestors and healing.

"Australia Day is an opportunity for everyone to spread out a picnic on the lawn and enjoy the views of Sydney Harbour," said Sandra Bender, Executive Director, Activation and Precinct Management at Barangaroo Delivery Authority.

"This year, we have focused on highlighting the magnificent nature of the Reserve with children’s workshops where they can build a habitat, taste local plant offerings or create original bush jewellery."

The Australia Day lineup at Barangaroo Reserve includes:

  - 7:30am: Fire arrives at Marrinawi Cove.

  - 7:45am: Smoking Ceremony on Walumil Lawns.

  - 8:00am-8:30am: WugulOra ceremony including Welcome to Country, Baraya: Sing Up Country, dance performance and national anthem sung by Kari Choir (in Dharawal and English).

   - 9:00am-10:00am: Catch the finest wheelchair athletes from across the globe as they pass Barangaroo Reserve in the GIO OZ Day 10k wheelchair race.

  - 9:00am-5:00pm: Take a peek at the future Metro with Sydney Metro’s life-size train carriage, complete with a 3D-vitual reality experience.

  - 10:00am-5:00pm: Discover the spectacular free Sydney Festival installation, The Beach a monochromatic ocean of 1.1 million recyclable polyethylene balls filling the Cutaway.

  - 11:30am: See the finish of the Ferrython as they come under the Sydney Harbour Bridge

  - 10:00am-4:00pm: Get hands-on at the Edible Kids' Gardens nature play stations along the foreshore for a unique sensory experience for the whole family.

  - 1:30pm See the finish of the Tall Ships race as they come under the Sydney Harbour Bridge

  - 3:15-3:35pm: Be entertained by multi-award winning Jazz virtuoso James Morrison and his band on the Cruising Concert as it rounds the headland and moors in Nawi Cove.

 - 11:00am-4:00pm: Enjoy roving performances and live acoustic music at Duke’s Pier and Walumil Lawn.

Bring a picnic or tempt your tastebuds with delicious dishes from food trucks at Barangaroo Reserve, or the range of cafes and restaurants at Barangaroo’s southern dining precinct.

Barangaroo Reserve is accessible by public transport and on foot from Walsh Bay, Millers Point and The Rocks. The closest stations are Circular Quay and Wynyard, with Wynyard Walk providing a fast and accessible route without any hills.

The Wilson carpark under Barangaroo Reserve will be open, but be aware that Hickson Road will be closed between 7:00am and 10:00am for the GIO OZ Day 10k wheelchair race. The carpark can be access via Dalgety Road.

For more information about Australia Day 2017 at Barangaroo Reserve, please visit http://www.barangaroo.sydney/ or join the conversation with #Barangaroo #AusDay.

- ENDS-

For more information on Australia Day 2017 at Barangaroo or interviews, please contact:

Sarah Shields, Access PR, 02 9292 7007, 0408 283 091, sarah@accesspr.com.au


EVENT DETAILS

Event: Australia Day 2017 at Barangaroo Reserve

Date: Thursday, 26 January 2017

Time: 7:30am-5:00pm

Location: Barangaroo Reserve, Barangaroo, NSW

Entry: Free

URL: barangaroo.sydney/whats-on/australia-day-2017/