The land of the long weekend

TWiSK looks at how we enjoy the Australia Day long weekend in 2025

While Australia Day continues to divide opinions, there appears to be universal acclaim for the long weekend that falls immediately prior to the start of the school year.

In St Kilda, this takes on extra significance in 2025 as Council spends up big a trifecta of symbolism related to the Australia Day long weekend.

Symbol #1: Captain Cook and the $15K security budget
Bizarre as it seems, while he never entered Port Phillip Bay in real life, the vandalism of the foreshore statue last year on the eve of Australia Day captured headlines. The statue was quietly reinstated last November and authorities are justifiably nervous about a repeat of the vandalism. TWiSK can reveal the repair of the statue cost Council $10K – the excess fee in an insurance claim of over $23K. But here’s the kicker, Mayor Crawford told TWiSK that security costs for protecting the statue in the lead-up, and subsequent, to Australia Day in 2025, are expected to be about $15,000.

Symbol #2: We-Akon Dilinja dawn community gathering
As sun rises on 26 January, the Boonwurrung Land and Sea Council and Council will acknowledge the first nation’s contribution to our contemporary way life. In past years it has been both solemn and uplifting. Mayor Crawford told TWiSK that council is contributing about $40,000 to We-Akon Dilinja this year, which goes towards costs such as staging and artist fees.

Symbol #3 Citizenship ceremony
Post Phillip hosts about six of these ceremonies each year, including Australia Day. This year there will be 120 conferees from 41 countries the St Kilda Town Hall on Australia Day. The atmosphere at these ceremonies can be best described as a sea of smiling faces. It never ceases to impress.

And for lovers of Oz Rock …..

Not organised by Council, but the long weekend is popular for its celebration of Oz Rock and this year we have three of the best associated with the halcyon days of pub rock ..