Victoria

Australia Day 2017 public holiday guide: What’s open and what’s on in Melbourne

Australia Day is not a restricted trading day so most retailers and services will be open but they may have reduced trading hours.

Here is a list of what's open, how to get around, what to do and where to go in case of an emergency.

What's on

Australia Day Parade: 11am to midday, Swanston Street, Melbourne

The Australia Day Parade celebrates Victoria's cultural diversity and will feature participants from over 90 community and cultural groups.

Official Flag Raising Ceremony: 10.30am to 11am, Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston Street, Melbourne

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The flag raising ceremony marks the beginning of Victoria's official Australia Day celebrations. Following the raising of the flag, attendees will be invited to participate in the Australia Day Affirmation - the ceremony concluding with the national anthem.

RACV Australia Day Festival in Kings Domain Gardens: 11am to 4pm, Kings Domain Gardens, St Kilda Road, Melbourne

Following the Australia Day Parade, The RACV Australia Day Festival continues the theme of Victoria's diversity. There will be free family activities, displays from a broad range of community groups and a showcase of vintage and classic cars.

Highlights include a free concert headlined by children's entertainer Justine Clarke and at 12.30pm the Royal Australian Air Force Roulettes will put on a show across the city skyline. There will also be a multicultural themed food truck park.

Australia Day at Docklands: 6pm to 10.30pm, Harbour Esplanade, Docklands

In the evening, Harbour Esplanade will feature roaming artists and entertainment and a Food Truck Festival celebrating multicultural perspectives on the Great Australian BBQ. The family friendly celebration will conclude with a fireworks display ignited from the top of Etihad Stadium.

Australia Day at Government House: 9.30am to 3.30pm, Government House, Government House Drive, Melbourne

Victoria's historic Government House and its garden will open to the public as part of Australia Day celebrations.

Flag Lowering Ceremony: 4.15pm - 5.15pm, Shrine of Remembrance, St Kilda Road, Melbourne

The Order of Australia Association will hold the annual flag lowering ceremony. This year the ceremony will recognise the second centenary year of the First World War and Gallipoli. 

Dr Joshua Funder will deliver the commemoration address. The ceremony will include the trooping by the Australian Navy Band, and the 401 Air Cadet Squadron from HMAS Cerberus, a wreath laying, the Reading of the Ode to the Fallen, and the lowering of the flag.

Australia Day at the Australian Open

The food outlets on Grand Slam Oval - Gazi, Mamasita and Grill'd will be adding an Aussie touch to their menus.

At the Upper Terrace at the AO Festival Triple J will be played from 12pm. This is free entry and does not require a ground pass. Expect tennis viewing on big screens, cool beats, and Melbourne dining from Hotel Jesus, Jimmy Grants, Tokyo Tina and Huxtaburger.

Supermarkets

Coles: Normal trading hours.

Woolworths: Most stores operating to normal trading hours. Some stores have shortened trading hours, check local stores here.

Aldi: Normal trading hours.

IGA: Normal trading hours, check local stores here.

Shopping centres

Melbourne Central: 10am - 6pm (restricted)

Melbourne Emporium: 10am - 9pm (Normal Thursday hours)

Chadstone: 9am - 9pm (Normal Thursday hours)

Highpoint: 9am - 9pm (normal Thursday hours)

Northland: 10am - 5pm (restricted)

Westfield Doncaster: 10am - 5pm (restricted)

Westfield Southland: 10am - 5pm (restricted)

The Glen: 10am - 5pm (restricted)

Myer Melbourne: 10am - 7pm (restricted)

Public transport

Trains: Services will run to a Saturday timetable.

Trams: Trams will run to a Saturday timetable, with last tram approximately one hour earlier than usual. Some services will be disrupted by route alterations and road closures, check specific services here.

Buses: Most services will run to a Saturday timetable. Some services may be altered or will not run, check specific services here.

Regional trains: Services will run to a Saturday timetable.

Regional coach: Services will run to an altered timetable, check specific services here.

GPs

Home Doctor Service: 137 425. Coverage area here 

Medical at Home: 8341 1888 

Mill Park Super Clinic: Open 24/7, 250 Childs Road, Mill Park, 9436 4155 

Medical One, Elwood: 9am-6pm, 61 Brighton Road, Elwood, 9531 9811

Medical One, Frankston: 9am-2pm, 47 Davey Street, Frankston, 9781 3966 

Medical One, Sunshine: 9am-2pm, 324 Hampshire Road, Sunshine, 9310 2947 

Medical One, Moonee Ponds: 8am-1pm, 14 Pascoe Vale Road, Moonee Ponds, 8325 1111 

Medical One, QV Melbourne: 9am-1pm, Level 3, 23 QV Terrace, 292 Swanston Street, Melbourne, 8663 7000 

Geelong GP Super Clinic (Kardinia Health): 10am-12pm, 2-18 Colac Road, Belmont, 5202 9333 

Chelsea Heights Medical Centre (bulk billing): 8am-midnight, 205 Thames Promenade, Chelsea Heights, 8785 9900

Hastings Family Medical Centre (bulk billing): 8am-midnight, 9 Queen St, Hastings, 5972 8000.

Pharmacies

Casey Super Clinic Pharmacy: Open 24/7, 50 Kangan Drive, Berwick, 9769 9824

Mill Park Super Clinic Pharmacy: Open 24/7, 250 Childs Road, Mill Park, 9437 7437 

​Mulqueeny Midnight Pharmacy: 9am-midnight, corner Williams Road and High Street, Prahran, 9510 3977 

​Tambassis Pharmacy: 8am-midnight, corner Sydney and Brunswick roads, Brunswick, 9387 8830 

Chapel Gate Pharmacy: 9am-9pm, corner Carlisle and Chapel streets, Balaclava, 9531 1396 

Slade Pharmacy: 8am-10pm, ground floor, 89 Bridge Road, Richmond, 8420 0700 

Chemist Warehouse St Albans: 8.30am-9pm, 327 Main Road East, St Albans, 9366 3545 

Footscray Pharmacy: 11am-5pm, 2/76 Nicholson Street, Footscray 9396 1223 

Pet services

24-hour Vet: Centre for Animal Referral and Emergency (CARE), 5 Hood Street, Collingwood, 9417 6417 

Lort Smith Animal Hospital North Melbourne: 8.30am - 5pm for routine consults and emergencies, 5pm-midnight for emergencies only. 24 Villiers Street, North Melbourne, 9328 3021 

Lost Dogs Home North Melbourne: 9am-12.30pm. 2 Gracie Street, North Melbourne, 9329 2755

Melbourne attractions

Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium: 9:30am to 7pm. Last admission 6pm. 1800 026 576.

Crown Entertainment Complex: Open 24 hours. 9292 8888.

Eureka Skydeck 88: 10am-10pm, 9693 8888

O'Brien Group Arena (formerly Medibank Icehouse): 9am-10pm, 1300 756 699. 

Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary: Open 8am-5pm, 1300 966 784. 

Royal Botanic Gardens: Melbourne open 7:30am to sunset. Cranbourne open 9am to 5pm. 9252 2300.

Wonderland Fun Park Docklands: 11am-6pm, 9602 1311. 

IMAX Melbourne Museum: First session 10am, last session 7pm. 9663 5454. 

Fitzroy Gardens Visitor Centre and Cook's Cottage: 9am-5pm. 9658 9658.

Melbourne Museum: 10am-5pm, 131 102. 

National Gallery of Victoria: 10am-5pm, 8662 1555. 

Puffing Billy Railway: Open, trains leave Belgrave at 10.30am, 11.10am, 12.30pm, 1.15pm and 2.30pm. 9757 0700.

Markets

Queen Victoria Market: Closed

South Melbourne Market: Night market will run from 5.30pm - 9.30pm

Preston Market: Closed

Prahran Market: Closed

Footscray Market: Closed

Airport transfers

Melbourne Airport: Skybus operates to normal schedule (24 hours), 1300 759 287 ; Starbus operates to normal schedule (from CBD 5am - 7pm, from airport 6am - 6pm), 8378 8700

Avalon Airport: Avalon Airport Shuttle operates to normal schedule (to and from every flight) to Geelong, Bellarine and the Surf Coast, 5278 8788

Visitor information services

Melbourne Visitor Centre: 9am-6pm 

Melbourne Visitor Shuttle: 9.30am-3.45pm. This service is free on Australia Day.

Melbourne Visitor Booth: 9am-5pm 

City Ambassadors: 10am-4pm

Melbourne Greeter Service: Starts 9.30am. Further details available here.

Melbourne Town Hall Tours: Every hour, midday-3pm.

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