Presented by Multicultural Arts Victoria...

The Piers Festival - Celebrating our migration
Station Pier & Princes Pier, Port Melbourne
Saturday 28 January, 2012

Station Pier (off Waterfront Place, Port Melbourne) and Princes Pier (off Pier Street, Port Melbourne) Tram 109 lightrail to Waterfront Place, Port Melbourne.

Flyer (including map) | Poster | Media Release

Station Pier Program: From 12noon - 4:00pm

12noon Station Pier Opens   Historical Migration Exhibition from the Immigration Museum   Photographic Exhibition - Georgia Metaxas   Film Screenings: 12:30pm 1st Screening of 'Dall'Italia All'Australia' silent film with live music by I Viaggiatori 2:30pm 2nd Screening of 'Dall'Italia All'Australia' silent film with live music by I Viaggiatori

Princes Pier Program: 1:00pm - 9:30pm

1pm-4pm DJ Matteo Rubbettino   Chinese Lion Dancers   Indonesian Mask Dancer   African Drum & Dance 4pm-9:30pm Cultural Program Mainstage   MC Paul Petran 4:00pm Welcome to Country 4:25pm Victoria Police Pipe Band with Glen Brae & Rabusin Dancers 4:40pm Ottoman Mehter Marching Band (Turkish) 5:00pm Te Hononga O Nga Iwi (Maori) 5:25pm Shljivovitz Orchestra & Kolo Dance (Balkan) 6:00pm Arte Kanela (Spanish) 6:30pm Verchovyna Dance (Ukrainian) 6:40pm Bitsat (Ethiopian) 7:00pm The Lost Clog (Lithuanian) 7:30pm Manasis Greek Dance (Greek) 7:50pm Sol Nation (East Timorese Reggae/Funk) 8:30pm Melbourne Ska Orchestra (with Multicultural guests) 9:15pm Fireworks

1pm-9:30pm Market Place Food Antojos (Colombian)   Yassna's Pitteria (Bosnian - Herzegovina)   Island Knights (Caribbean)   Spanish Gourmet Caterers (Spanish)   Latin'OZ (Latin American)   Fiesta (Middle Eastern)   Bretzel.Biz (German)   Fresh Lemonade   Mr Wonder Whip (ice-cream) Crafts Nazia Wasif Henna (Indian)   El Inca (Peruvian)   Quetzalli (Mexican)   'Sofi Arts & Crafts' (Indian)   Pacific Woman Weaving Circle (Pacific Islands)   Rangoli (Indian Floor Art)   African Drumming (African)   Children's Storytelling & Activities Tall Ship Sailings throughout the day

Tall Ship Sailings departure times (Princess Pier) 2:00pm First 45 minute public sail 6:00pm Second 45 minute public sail 8:45pm Second 45 minute public sail

How to get to The Piers Festival?

Parking in surrounding areas is very limited. Catch the No 109 Lightrail tram from Box Hill to Port Melbourne via Collins St, City.

On Google maps, visit Station Pier (off Waterfront Place, Port Melbourne) and Princes Pier (off Pier Street, Port Melbourne).

Check the weather forecast. It can get a bit windy and sunny. Bring sun hat, sun glasses and wind gear if necessary and have fun!

Piers Festival

This wonderful display of Melbourne's diversity will link in with Victoria's Australia Day activities and highlight the state's rich history of migration.

The Piers Festival will celebrate Victoria's incredible cultural diversity by reflecting on the rich histories of both Port Melbourne piers.

The event is free, family friendly and will culminate with a fireworks display.

Open Day: Celebrating Victoria's migration and living cultural heritage

Wander through the arrival hall where thousands of migrants have arrived. View a historical exhibition by the Immigration Museum and a photographic exhibition by Georgia Metaxas.

Experience 'Dall'Italia All'Australia' historical, silent film screening with live musical accompaniment by i Viaggiatori.

Cultural Concert & Stalls (Princes Pier)

The cultural concert and stalls will include: the Tall Ship Enterprize; Historical displays; Kids activities; Fireworks; World music; Choirs; Dance groups; Roving acts; Food and crafts from the around the world; and Marching bands.

A friend gives Miss Clarice Faravoni a hand to welcome her fiance LAC Ken C. Fisher on arrival at Princes Pier on the Athlone Castle. Argus Newspaper Collection of Photographs, State Library of Victoria

Station Pier

Station Pier Cruise Terminal will welcome visitors to an OPEN DAY from 12 to 4pm. Learn about the history of the pier from its beginnings and through decades of migration by experiencing the historical display put together by the Immigration Museum especially for this event.

Photographic Exhibition by Georgia Metaxas

Witness the stunning images by local photographer Georgia Metaxas, which poignantly document the Blessing of the Waters ceremony which has been held by the Greek Orthodox community at this site for over three decades.

Screening of Dall'Italia All'Australia (from Italy to Australia)

Screenings at 12:30 - 1:30pm and at 2:30 - 3:30pm.
Location: Cruise Terminal, Station Pier (the south end of the pier)
Screenings by RSVP only to fiesta@multiculturalarts.com.au

Dall'Italia All'Australia Program | i Viaggiatori Biographies

Dall Italia - After eighty years, the Queen of Italy again sets sail

i Viaggiatori - accompany the the (silent) film

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. This silent film by Angelo Drovetti is presented by Tony De Bolfo with live music by i Viaggiatori. By arrangement with Fondazione Cineteca Italiana, Milan.

An epic journey of 8000 nautical miles is captured on film and brought to the Piers Festival with live musical accompaniment by I Viaggiatori. The film showcases the panoramic views witnessed by Italian, Yugoslav, Greek, Arabic and Jewish migrants as they stood atop the deck of the old steamer during their seven-week world odyssey from Genoa to Australia, by way of Egypt and Sri Lanka, arriving in September 1924.

Over 60 minutes of incredible black and white imagery is brought to life 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.

Princes Pier

Ska Orchestra

Princes Pier will welcome visitors from 1 to 9pm for a world music program, food and craft stalls and lots more. Learn about the history of the pier in its heritage listed gatehouse and historic kiosk.

Te Hononga O Nga Iwi

Tall Ship Enterprize

Tall Ship Enterprize

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.

Media inquiries

Andrea Makris, Multicultural Arts Victoria, Tel: 03 9188 3681, Email: events@multiculturalarts.com.au

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.

The Piers Festival will also celebrate Multicultural Arts Victoria's move to the City of Port Phillip.

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 and Fitzgerald Constructions.