Don’t miss out on Council’s free Australia Day Family Fun Day
Published on 19 January 2026
Gladstone Regional Council’s free Australia Day Family Fun Day returns to Tannum Sands this year for a relaxed morning by the water at the beautiful Millennium Esplanade parklands.
Council’s Australia Day Family Fun Day will run from 10am until 1pm on Monday 26 January.
Gladstone Region Mayor Matt Burnett said the Family Fun Day is open to everyone to come together to celebrate what it means to be Australian.
“This year we are back at Millennium Esplanade in Tannum Sands for a family-friendly morning of Aussie-themed games and activities, a free sausage sizzle for the first 1000 people, food stalls, free face painting, music from local bands Soulhaven and Sand, kids rides and much more,” Mayor Burnett said.
“I’ll also be announcing winners from the Celebrate Australia Primary School Art Competition and unveiling the name of our new Green Bin mascot.”
Aussie-themed games and activities include:
- Tug of War
- Sack Races
- Egg and Spoon Races
- Lamington Eating Competition
- Footy Throw
- Dunny Roll Toss
- 3-Legged Race
- Kids Craft.
IMAGE: Sack race at Council's 2024 Australia Day Family Fun Day held at Tannum Sands.
Mayor Burnett encouraged residents who cannot attend the Family Fun Day at Tannum Sands to consider attending other Council-supported events within the region.
“The Turkey Beach Progress Association will host an Australia Day breakfast at the Community Hall from 7am, Builyan Many Peaks Community Development Association will also host breakfast from 8am at the Builyan Hall, and South End Progress Association will host an event on Curtis Island at 10am,” he said.
“There are other events taking place within the region as well, so please reach out to me via Facebook and I’ll do my best to share your event with the wider community.”
Meanwhile, the Gladstone Region Australia Day Awards will be held at Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre (GECC) on Sunday 25 January, commencing from 5.30pm.
IMAGE: Mayor Matt Burnett and 2025 Citizen of the Year Alison Kelly.
The event will be live streamed from Council’s Facebook and YouTube webpages from 6.15pm.
Click here for more information about the free Australia Day Family Fun Day and Gladstone Region Australia Day Awards.