And this year’s theme is Aussie Icons. Everything true blue – from gold panning to native animals … even the Great Barrier Reef – will play a role in the celebrations.

“Australia Day is an important occasion to reflect on what makes our country such a great place to live,” Maitland Council’s Events team leader Kara Stonestreet said.

“It is also a day to spend enjoying all the things we love about Australia and that definitely includes many of our icons.”

This year’s event will feature a range of free activities between 7.30am and 3pm. Festivities kick off with a free barbecue breakfast from 7.30am, followed by a range of fun and interactive activities for the young and young at heart.

These include free amusements and pony rides native animal petting zoo, kid’s gold panning, reef fishing, Australiana kid’s craft, an Australian icon themed scavenger hunt and free scones baked over a camp fire.

There will also be the annual thong throwing competition, face painting and a classic car display featuring some of Australia’s iconic cars.

“The theme is celebrating Aussie icons, with even some smaller icons,” Ms Stonestreet said.

Former MasterChef contestant Kumar Pereira will be Maitland’s Australia Day Ambassador for the Official Ceremony starting at 10am.

The official program will include a Citizenship Ceremony, where more than 30 residents will become Australian citizens, and the presentation of Maitland’s Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year.

“We are excited to welcome these citizens to the city… We have people from across the globe including South Africa, India, South Korea and Iran,” Ms Stonestreet said. “That will flow into the Citizen of the Year award. We have nine nominees for the Citizen of the Year and six for Young Citizen of the Year. 

“It’s about recognising their contribution to the community.”