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Walumil Lawns Barangaroo Reserve, Barangaroo, NSW, 2000
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The WugulOra Morning Ceremony at Barangaroo Reserve is a reminder that Aboriginal people are the foundation of Australia’s story and caretakers of the world's oldest continuous living culture.
Since its inception in 2003 (when it was called Woggan-ma-gule), this ancient smoking ceremony has cleansed the way for new beginnings and celebrated the Gadigal people of the Eora nation through music, dance, language, storytelling and ceremony.
It is held on Gadigal land year on January 26 and celebrates Aboriginal culture, with special performances by dancers and singers. Addresses will be given by dignitaries and the Australian National Anthem will be sung in English and Eora, the local Aboriginal language.
This ceremony and much of the Australia Day in NSW program is guided by Aboriginal representatives. It features many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists showcasing the richness and historical significance of their culture through modern and meaningful performances. The event is co-curated with the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council.
Everyone is welcome to attend, free of charge.
Photo highlights from WugulOra Morning Ceremony 2023
Learn about the history of the WugulOra Morning Ceremony on Australia Day
For the past two decades, Australians have gathered on Gadigal land in Sydney on the morning of January 26 to acknowledge and celebrate First Nations’ culture through music, dance, language and story-telling.
2023 marked the 20-year anniversary of the Australia Day morning ceremony, which is now known as WugulOra (meaning ‘One Mob’).
In this video, hear from those who created the first event back in 2003, which was called Woggan-ma-gule (meaning ‘Meeting of the waters’), about its importance as a reflective and meaningful start to our national day.
