Australia Day: Thousands flock to Swan River foreshore for Australia Day fireworks show

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Australia Day: Thousands flock to Swan River foreshore for Australia Day fireworks show

Thousands of families have packed the Swan River foreshore ahead of tonight’s Australia Day fireworks show.

The city is expecting record numbers of people around Langley Park for the January 26, with an expected crowd of 100,000.

Two tonnes of fireworks across nine barges will be sent into the air at 8.30pm.

Steve Mclaren and Karen Clarke had secured a prime spot by 4pm on Riverside Drive ready for the 8.30pm light show — a 30 minute drone and firework display.

“Australia is home, it’s where we were born,” Ms Clarke said.

Food trucks, *********** flags and even motocross were littered throughout the crowd hours ahead of the finale.

With a flag perched on his esky, Mr Mclaren said smiling faces and the “easy going” nature of others made him want to celebrate.

“It’s a free country where we are free to speak … there is open and clean air,” he said.

“There are all sorts of people living here — they are happy, easy going and the skies are blue.”

Camera IconThe Knox family moved to Perth from the Scottish Highlands two months ago and was one of several families enjoying the summer’s day by the river.  Credit: Michael Wilson/The West ***********

The Knox family moved to Perth from the Scottish Highlands two months ago and was one of several families enjoying the summer’s day by the river.

Seven-year-old Corey Knox said his favourite thing about Australia, so far, was the “kangaroos”.

And his six-year-old sister, Ellie, said the Aussie beaches were “much better” than Scotland’s.

On Sunday, In their hometown of Fort William, it was -2C compared to Perth’s maximum of 32C.

Carnival rides and food trucks are set to run throughout the evening — with a kilometre of entertainment filling Langley Park.

The public is advised to be wary of road closures through the CBD.

Earlier this week, City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas said the crowds for the day were steadily increasing again after 65,000 watched from Langley Park in 2023 and 70,000 in 2024

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Camera IconAustralia Day Sky Show at Langley Park. Credit: Michael Wilson/The West ***********

“What we have particularly noticed over the last couple of years is the number of people who have wanted to come out proudly wearing *********** T-shirts, carrying *********** flags, wearing *********** hats, flying their *********** colours and wanting to be out with other Australians to celebrate our national day,” he said.

“At a time going back a few years when that very premise was being debated, the City of Perth stuck by it, and as a result our event has grown.”

Mr Zempilas — who is also running as the Liberal candidate for Churchlands in the State election — said on Wednesday he had seen the community push back on changing the date.

“There is no doubt that community sentiment has pushed back towards January 26 and celebrating Australia Day on our national day,” he said.

“I think people are feeling more confident, people are feeling more comfortable and in fact people are more determined to be able to fly their *********** colours on Australia Day.”

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