The National Capital Authority (NCA) invites locals and visitors to come and celebrate what it means to be Australian in Lights on the Lake – with market stalls, food vendors, and a laser light water show at Commonwealth Place, Lake Burley Griffin from 25 to 28 January.

Spread across the four evenings, the NCA hopes to bring the community together in a way that respects, reflects and celebrates what it means to be Australian in 2023. Before the sun goes down, attendees have the chance to purchase locally made goods and clothing or grab a bite to eat from a selection of multicultural food vendors. Bars and restaurants will also be in operation around the area.

Once darkness starts to set in, colours and movement bring Lake Burley Griffin to life with nearly 100 tonnes of equipment creating a one-of-a-kind liquid and light show. Using fountains, lasers and video projections, the 12-minute-long production will be played at different intervals from 9pm.

While the lasers and water elements may be able to be seen across the lakefront, Acting CEO of NCA, Hamid Heydarian, says it is important for people to know the video projection will only be able to be seen from Commonwealth Place – not to be confused with Commonwealth Park.

“Because the light projections are only two dimensions, to show the picture screens, it is best on that side,” he says.

Mr Heydarian says the NCA are excited for locals to experience the event as whole, working with marketing team behind the popular Little Burley and Haig Park markets. However, the production aspect is particularly exciting as Canberra hasn’t seen something like this before.  

“A piece of art combines light sound and water. A collaboration between the National Australia Day Council and ourselves at NCA, designed to bring people together to reflect, respect and celebrate what it means to be Australian.”

Along with the show honouring people past, present, and emerging, in the water and light show, the National Carillion will show the faces of the nominees for Australian of the Year.

Together, the NCA and Australia Day Council agreed to hold the event over four days as an opportunity for everyone to be included. Mr Heydarian says having it continue into the weekend means that visitors to the capital will also be able to include it in their Canberra experience.

Another important aspect of the project is the involvement of our First Nation people. He says they have worked closely with the traditional custodians of the land, the Ngunnawal people, to ensure the event appropriately respects their connection to country.

Dr Caroline Hughes, a Ngunnawal Elder and Executive Director, Collection Services Group, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), worked with the NCA on the project. She says as one of many Ngunnawal Elders, she was delighted to film a Welcome to Country for the production.

“Our welcome reflects our desire to invite the community to come together to reflect and enjoy the land and life here in the Capital. We hope that all contribute to voice, treaty, truth in the spirit of reconciliation.”

Dr Hughes was also involved in creating the water ceremony filmed for the show featuring First Nation dancers. The team behind the product says their movement flows seamlessly with the water in the lake, creating a breathtaking image.

“They’ve had dancers do this performance and we have projected this onto water screens … water shoots up in a peacock tail arc, we project the images so it looks like the dancers are also performing on the lake,” says Glenn Turner, Director of Oracle Liquid.

Mr Turner says they are the only company of their kind producing shows of this size and standard in Australia, and he is excited to share with Canberra something they would have only seen at a theme park like Disneyland.

He says each production the company creates is different, based on the brief the client gives them. Based out of Sydney and the Gold Coast, they travel around the country sharing their talents. He was pleased to see this show pay respect to all Australians – from farmers to people who have given their life to look after Australia, including firefighters and first responders.

Catch the faces and images of Australia in Lights on the Lake at Commonwealth Place, Lake Burley Griffin, 25-28 January; nca.gov.au

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