Free events this Australia Day

A RANGE of free events will be on offer this Australia Day at Lake Wendouree, organised by the Golden City Paddle Steamer Museum Society.

On the Botanical Gardens side of the lake, free paddle boat tours will be departing every 20 minutes from 10am until 4pm.

There will also be a vintage car display, performances from multicultural groups, and Scouts and sports activities.

At and near View Point, attendees can visit the Lake Wendouree Museum, take part in craft activities, see cultural presentations, try walking soccer or see radio controlled yachts.

Free buses will also leave every 20 minutes around Lake Wendouree.

Golden City Paddle Steamer Museum Society secretary Ian Bennett said the day is about celebrating Australia and its diverse history.

“This day is a day to reflect, respect and celebrate being Australian and how lucky we all are to be Australian,” he said.

For the first time, there will be two QR code tours: a tour of the Australian Prime Minister’s Avenue and a solar walk around the lake.

The events are themed around the ‘Life. Be in it’ health campaign which is celebrating 50 years.

“2025 [events] reflect the ‘Life. Be in it’ philosophy of family, fun and most importantly free,” said Mr Bennett.

“On the Saturday before Australia Day we have people from all over Australia coming to Ballarat to celebrate the golden jubilee.”

Cr Samantha McIntosh, who is also patron of the Golden City Paddle Steamer Museum Society, said Australia Day provides an opportunity to reflect on different parts of our history.

“We, as a City of Ballarat do start the day off with the [Survival Day] Dawn Service,” she said.

“It’s a really important ceremony and a really lovely ceremony that does in include a really important part of our history.”