Come along to the Piers Festival on SATURDAY 28 JANUARY.
This FREE EVENT is a celebration of migration at Station Pier & Princes Pier in Port Melbourne.
From the goldrush to wartime, from post-war migration to cruise shipping, Station and Princes Piers have played a pivotal role in Victoria’s growth and offered a gateway to the great diversity of cultures that enrich our community.
Multicultural Arts Victoria cordially invites you and your community to join us at the Piers Festival.
Station Pier Cruise Terminal OPEN DAY from 12 to 4pm
Location: Cruise Terminal, Station Pier (the south end of the pier)
- Learn about the history of the pier by experiencing the historical display put together by the Immigration Museum
- Witness the stunning images of the Blessing of the Waters ceremony held by the Greek Orthodox community at this site by local photographer Georgia Metaxas
- Go on a journey through time with a stunning screening of Dall’Italia All’Australia (from Italy to Australia), impressions of the voyage of the SS Regina d’Italia towards the mysterious Orient and the fascinating Far South, filmed between August and September 1924. Live musical accompaniment by I Viaggiatori, comprised of ARIA Award winners Kavisha Mazzella and Irene Vella and three others playing romantic and earthy 19th century, Italian folk music.
Film Screenings at 12:30 – 1:30pm and at 2:30 – 3:30pm. Spaces to film screenings limited. RSVP essential by only to fiesta@multiculturalarts.com.au
Princes Pier Cultural Program from 1 to 9:30pm
Location: off Pier Street, Port Melbourne
World music and dance program, food and craft stalls, fireworks, tall ship Enterprize and lots more!
- THE MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA | 25 piece band with special multicultural guests
- SOL NATION | reggae, samba, funk with a splash of East Timorese folk
- MANASIS DANCE | Greek traditional dance for all to join in
- THE LOST CLOG | Lithuanian harmonies with a dash of humour
- BITSAT | authentic and soulful Ethiopian music
- VERCHOVYNA ENSEMBLE …dynamic and colourful display of Ukrainian culture
- ARTE KANELA | Australia’s leading flamenco music and dance act
- SHLJIVOVITZ ORCHESTRA WITH SERBIAN DANCERS | Balkan tunes to get the heart pumping
- TE HONONGA O NGA IWI | powerful Maori harmonies, haka and pois twirling
- MEHTER OTTOMAN MARCHING BAND | powerful vocals and drums from Turkish community
- VICTORIA POLICE PIPE BAND | playing many highland favourites for the Scottish & Irish dancers
Board the tall ship Enterprize for an authentic nineteenth century sailing experience. Enterprize is a stunning replica of the 1835 ship that brought the first settlers to Melbourne and will be offering sails throughout the afternoon.
History
Originally called Railway Pier, the heritage listed Station Pier officially opened in 1854 and played a pivotal role in the lives of gold seekers and early settlers.
It was the departure point for key military expeditions and the entry point for hundreds of thousands of European migrants over the past century.
Princes Pier, adjacent to Station Pier, was completed in 1916 and also played a significant role in Victoria’s multicultural, wartime and maritime history.
Its 1935 gatehouse is heritage listed and the pier was recently restored for public use by the Victorian Government, through Major Projects Victoria.
The 1935 gatehouse will house historical photographs and this will be the first major event on the pier since its restoration.
Piers Festival
The Piers Festival welcomes all to celebrate migration and cultural diversity across two historic landmarks.
Producers and Supporters
The Piers Festival is proudly produced by Multicultural Arts Victoria and supported by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, the Australia Day Committee (Vic), Major Projects Victoria and the Immigration Museum.
More details:
