Celebrating NAIDOC and First Nations Culture on the Waterfront

As smoke drifted gently across Gheringhap Plaza , guests gathered on the Geelong waterfront – a landscape woven deeply into the story of Country – to participate in a Smoking Ceremony.

Long before Nyaal Banyul rose as a home for events and celebrations, the site was known as baierr. For thousands of generations, it served as a gathering ground where the Wadawurrung people would come together to yarn, celebrate and share wisdom.

On Saturday, 4 July 2026, that timeless tradition entered a new chapter, when the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative celebrated its biggest NAIDOC Ball yet with a joyous gala dinner inside our Delama Event Space .

“NAIDOC Week is affectionately known as ‘Black Christmas’,” shares Beth Davis, Projects, Partnerships and Marketing Manager at Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative. “It’s just a real celebration and an opportunity for the community to come together.”

Room to Celebrate and Connect

For five decades, NAIDOC Week has shone a light on the achievements, strength and culture of First Nations people across Australia. For Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative – a proud, community organisation formally established in 1980 – the annual NAIDOC Ball is the jewel of their events calendar.

In 2026, Nyaal Banyul provided the perfect backdrop, throwing open its doors and welcoming 500 guests to share in the momentous occasion.

“The biggest thing for the Wathaurong community whenever we have the NAIDOC Ball is that there has to be room for a dance floor,” says Beth.

“Having a venue of this scale allowed so many more people from the community to come together and celebrate.” Reflecting on the sold-out event, she adds: “It’s something our city has been waiting for, for a very long time.”

Event highlights: Comfortably seating 500 guests with ample room for a dancefloor and stage, Delama Event Space proved the ideal setting for the gala.

Keeping the Heart in Every Detail

From the initial spark to final spotlight, the magic of the evening was built on genuine partnership.

“The Nyaal Banyul team were so open to collaborating and bringing our vision to life,” says Rachael Kirtley, Events Coordinator at Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative.

Beth echoes this sentiment: “The planning team was incredibly accommodating and responsive – it was really easy to work with them. They did a great job of helping us pull the event together.”

While the gala reached new heights, it remained grounded in what matters most. “We never want to lose that community feel,” says Beth. “It’s about creating a space where you can go from table to table, say hello and talk to everybody.”

Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative intentionally keeps its NAIDOC celebration intimate and heartfelt, continually shaping the event around the community’s voice. That philosophy guided every detail of the planning process.

“The venue team was very open to discussing how we could adjust things, like the menu or the AV elements to work within our budget,” says Rachael.

Event highlights: Collaborative, expert guidance from a dedicated Event Planner brought the vision to life, capturing the warm, vibrant and authentic community spirit of the evening.

Immersive Culture and Seamless Execution

From the opening Smoking Ceremony to the final dance of the evening, culture threaded through every moment of the celebration. “The Nyaal Banyul team was very supportive as to how we could incorporate those elements into the night,” says Rachael.

Inside, the atmosphere reached a peak as the Wathaurong community dance group took to the floor. “The fact that we were able to have our community dance group attend and perform was really special,” Rachael says, noting that a dedicated space was allocated for dancers and their families to prepare beforehand.

Then came the magic of the room itself. The Nyaal Banyul AV team bathed the Delama Event Space in rich red, black and yellow lighting, projecting a silhouette of a boomerang onto the draped backdrop.

“That was the sort of stuff we hadn’t actually asked for, but that the AV team just thought about and incorporated."

Finally, when the night wound down, pack up was completed in record time. “We were done in about half an hour, because the staff had an all-hands-on-deck approach – the tables were stripped, everything packed away,” recalls Beth.

“The sheer number of staff helping was really great,” says Rachael.

Event highlights: Thoughtful lighting design touches from our inhouse AV team set the mood for a truly atmospheric gala.

The Venue Geelong Was Waiting For

For Beth and Rachael, the success of the night confirmed exactly what Geelong had been missing.

“[Nyaal Banyul] is the type of venue that Geelong has needed for such a long time, and it’s really exciting that it’s finally here and available,” says Beth. “There aren’t many other venues around the city that possess the capacity for this type of large-scale event.”

Beyond the impressive scale, it’s the overall ambience that leaves a lasting impression. “The location and views are beautiful. Even just arriving and leaving the venue, it’s such a beautiful, thoughtfully designed space,” says Rachael.

The ultimate proof of success, however, is in what comes next. “We’ve already booked in our NAIDOC Ball for next year,” Beth confirms. “We're coming back.”

Planning a gala celebration of your own? Explore Nyaal Banyul’s gala and cocktail spaces and bring your next gathering to the Geelong waterfront.