The Piers Festival will celebrate Victoria’s cultural diversity by showcasing and reflecting the rich histories of both Station Pier and Princes Pier in Port Melbourne. The all-day festival will bring both piers to life in a celebration of music, dance, food and historical displays.
Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs Nicholas Kotsiras told Neos Kosmos, “The Piers Festival pays homage to the mass of humanity which arrived here from distant shores and built this nation and Australia Day is the perfect time to celebrate their contributions to Australian society”. Princes Pier will come to life with a full-day of activities.
A cultural concert including Manasis School of Dance and Culture performing traditional Greek dances, an East Timorese folk, samba and reggae band called Sol Nation, flamenco music by Arte Kanela and Bitsat a soulful Ethiopian performer plus many more. A replica of the tall ship Enterprize – the 1835 ship that brought the first ever settlers to Australia – will be displayed allowing visitors to board to discover first-hand the 19th century sailing experience. An open day at Station Pier from midday to 4:00 pm will allow visitors to walk through the arrival hall where thousands of migrants arrived. A historical exhibition will be put on by the Immigration Museum and footage captured on film of European migrants arriving in September 1924 will be screened.
Minister Kotsiras recognised the importance of this landmark in the Greek migrant experience to Australia.
“It was on Station Pier that thousands of Greeks took their first steps on land after the long sea voyage from their homeland,” he said. “Hundreds of thousands of migrants in the post War period disembarked through Victoria’s piers from Europe and that needs to be recognised as part of Australia Day celebrations.”
The Piers Festival will take place on Saturday 28 January from midday to 9:30 pm at Waterfront Place, Port Melbourne.
