Moomba Festival
Since it was established in 1955, the Moomba Festival has become an institution, unfolding in the 
city’s parks, along its streets and on the waters of the Yarra River. The festival is as familiar to Melbourne as Aussie Rules and the Melbourne Cup.
One of the biggest and longest-running festivals in Australia, Moomba has survived in spite of its critics, and it commands a strong place in the social history of the city.
Moomba has always sought community involvement. In early festivals, post-war migrants celebrated their cultural backgrounds through traditional costumes and performances. In the mid 60s, with a turn towards a more arts-oriented program, Aboriginal, Jewish, Italian and Latvian arts featured prominently. Multiculturalism has been widely accepted since the early 1990s, and cultural diversity has been well represented at Moomba ever since.
When? March 9 -12, 2012
Where? Melbourne, Victoria
What? 2011 programme
Expressions of interest now open for Moomba 2012.
Website? Moomba
Moomba queens
1955 Beverley Stewart |
1972 Debbi Scott 1973 Janice Bridgeford 1974 Marianne Perrott 1975 Aurora Laurins 1976 Julie Costa 1977 Sharyn Duncan 1978 Deanna DeBona 1979 Michelle Worsley 1980 Elizabeth Egan 1981 Kim Formosa 1982 Sharon McKenzie 1983 Linda Knight 1984 Kim Kermonde 1985 Anne Erikson 1986 Ingrid Johansen 1987 Marita Jones 2010 Kate Ceberano 2011 Ruby Rose |
Moomba kings
1967 Robert Morley (British actor)
1968 Tito Gobbi (Italian opera singer, believed to have abdicated)
1969 Alfred Marks (British actor)
1970 Johnny Famechon (champion Australian boxer)
1971 Lou Richards-Jester (singer)
1972 Johnny Farnham (singer)
1973 Sir Douglas Nicholls (Aboriginal minister)
1974 Sir Robert Helpmann (ballet dancer and choreographer)
1975 Rolf Harris (entertainer)
1976 Barry Crocker (entertainer)
1977 Mickey Mouse (Disney character) & Ugly Dave Gray (TV personality)
1978 Bert Newton (TV personality)
1979 Graham Kennedy (TV personality)
1980 Paul Cronin (actor)
1981 Lou Richards (sportsperson and TV host)
1982 Frank Thring (actor)
1983 Darryl Somers (entertainer)
1984 Kevin Bartlett (champion footballer)
1985 Ian Molly Meldrum (entertainer)
1986 Peter Brock (driver)
1987 Paul McNamee (tennis player)
2010 Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum (entertainer)
2011 Mick Malthouse (AFL championship coach)
