"Moomba has a proud tradition as Melbourne’s longest running festival of free family entertainment. Created in 1955 to give the people of Melbourne a chance to celebrate their city and the people of Australia and the world to visit its sights and spectacles, Moomba still creates magic in the hearts and minds of many.

Like the city itself, the event has had to evolve and adapt to suit the needs of the community. Originally a 10 day festival featuring a street parade, river pageant, sideshows, outdoor performance events and special activities for people of all ages, Moomba in the third millennium is a four-day spectacular that involves and engages the entire community. A street party, a garden party, a fireworks spectacular and tram parade combine with the timeless traditions of the water skiing championships to create the modern Moomba.

Moomba nearly didn’t make it onto Melbourne’s cultural calendar, stymied by the start of two world wars. Melbourne City Council, the owners and organisers of this famous festival, continued with the concept and eventually launched the event that was to survive into a new century.

The name Moomba is believed to derive from an Australian Aboriginal word translating to mean "Let’s get together and have fun".

Moomba has always had three major venues in Melbourne’s city heart: the Yarra River, Swanston Street and the Alexandra Gardens. The action of modern Moomba Festivals still centres on these sites, making Moomba a central meeting place for all Melburnians and a showcase for the city centre.

One Moomba tradition that hasn’t survived the test of time but is memorable for its magic and mystery, is the Moomba Monarch. For many Moomba Festivals, a ‘monarch’, chosen from Melbourne society and celebrity, was nominated to wear the Moomba crown. Moomba Monarchs have included singer John Farnham, sprinter Cathy Freeman, Italian opera singer, Tito Gobbi, the rowing sensation, the Awesome Foursome, Aboriginal rights campaigner, Pastor Sir Douglas Nicholls and television personality, Jo Pearson.

While Moomba may have changed over the years, it still survives for the four features that first made it famous: it is family, it is fun, it is festive and best of all, it’s free!"