History of Sydney Mardi Gras

Our History

At around 10pm, a small crowd began to gather in Taylor Square rugged up against the cold – it had been a big day. A morning street march and public meeting had been held. Those gathered were now primed for the street festival that became the first Mardi Gras.

But how did this come about? Well, in March 1978, San Francisco activists wrote to Ken Davis and Annie Talve. They asked for solidarity activities on the Stonewall anniversary to coincide with their march against the anti-gay Briggs Initiative on the California ballot. Ken and others called a meeting of lesbian and gay groups and individuals, which became the Gay Solidarity Group. Two weeks before 24 June, reps from CAMP Inc. suggested that a night-time, fun event for our community be added. The late Marg McMann, Co-President of CAMP Inc., dubbed it a Mardi Gras.

As 11pm approached, a throng of people – some walking, some dancing, a few even skipping – marched down towards Hyde Park. Chants of “Out of the bars and into the streets” joined the sound of gay liberation anthems ‘Glad to be Gay’ and ‘Ode to a Gym Teacher’. A small sound system and some banners were on the back of a single flat-bed truck driven by Lance Gowland.

The NSW Police, however, were not in such a joyous mood. Despite issuing a permit for the march, the police began to rush revelers down the street. When the marchers reached Hyde Park, the police confiscated the truck and sound system.

The crowd spontaneously marched up to Kings Cross. Once there the police swooped in, blocking the dispersing crowd and throwing people into paddy-wagons. The crowd fought back and 53 were subsequently charged at Darlinghurst police station.

“You could hear them in Darlinghurst police station being beaten up and crying out from pain. The night had gone from nerve-wracking to exhilarating to traumatic all in the space of a few hours. The police attack made us more determined to run Mardi Gras the next year.” – Ken Davis

The Gay Solidarity Group, other groups and individuals and came together for a massive political and legal effort – the Drop the Charges campaign. With pro bono legal assistance from the Council for Civil Liberties, they fought the charges in court. With growing support from many communities, they demonstrate for the charges to be dropped. But the Police continued to arrest protesters:

• 26 June – 300 protested outside the closed court in Liverpool St with 7 arrested

• 15 July – 2,000 take part in largest ever gay rights march with 14 arrests

• 27 August – 300 march down Oxford St from the 4th National Homosexual Conference with 104 arrests

• The total arrested in June, July and August 1978 was 178.

Most of the charges against those arrested were eventually dropped, though not all. The NSW Summary Offences Act, which had given Police very wide powers to arrest people, was repealed in May 1979.

The Sydney Morning Herald published the names, occupations and addresses of all those arrested – outing many and causing some to lose their jobs, rental accommodation and family relationships. This was the authorities’ attempt to keep the community in line, but Sydney’s gays and lesbians would not get back in line. Little did those who witnessed and joined in the event know, this was to be the start of Mardi Gras. This would become a defining moment not only in our LGBTQI rights history, but a defining moment in the cultural heritage of Australia.

– Written by the Mardi Gras 78ers Committee

On a cold night in Darlinghurst, Sydney in 1978, a small group of protestors formed to contribute to the international Gay Celebrations, the resulting police violence and arrests created a defining night in not only Sydney’s GLBTQI community but Australia’s cultural heritage.

Over the months that followed, more protests and arrests took place – and the actions of the authorities came to be seen as heavy handed. By April 1979 the Parliament of New South Wales repealed the NSW Summary Offences Act legislation that had allowed the arrests to be made. As such that first Mardi Gras march was a major civil rights milestone beyond the gay community. Up to 3,000 people marched in an incident-free parade in 1979.

In 1980 a key new element was introduced – the post-parade party. The face of the modern Mardi Gras we know today was taking shape.

The event began to enjoy extensive media coverage from the mid-80s onwards and the crowds continued to swell, from 200,000 in 1989 to over 500,000 in 1993. Large numbers of interstate and international travellers had started flying in for the event as well, generating an estimated $38 million for the NSW economy.

Throughout the late ‘90s and early part of this century, Mardi Gras continued to grow in tourist and spectator numbers along with an increase in the quality of the events and the scope of the festival. Its themes each year represent the issues of the day and encourage marginalised groups to join a larger family of supporters.

Today, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is one of Australia’s most famous and well-loved events, bringing thousands of visitors to Sydney to join in the celebrations. It captures the imagination of Australia’s LGBTQI and mainstream communities, taking over the city for weeks on end, culminating in the world-famous Parade: a colourful and dazzling night of pride, celebration and self-expression.

Learn more about the history of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras on our interactive Timeline here.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is a non-for-profit member-based organisation with deductible gift recipient status. Donate here.

1978 Saturday 24 June
Marking ‘International Gay Solidarity Day’

1979 Saturday 30 June
Power in the Darkness

1980 Saturday 28 June
Outrageous Gay Mardi Gras – Festive Ball

1981 Saturday 21 March (postponed from 21 Feb due to torrential rain)
We are the People our Parents Warned us Against

1982 Saturday 27 February
On Our Way To Freedom

1983 Saturday 26 February
Our Lives/Our Selves

1984 Saturday 25 February
We’ll Dance If We Want To!

1985 Saturday 23 February
Fight for our Lives

1986 Saturday 22 February
(no theme)

1987 Saturday 21 February
(no theme)

1988 Saturday 27 February
Celebrating a Safe Sex Summer

1989 Saturday 18 February
(no theme)

1990 Saturday 17 February
(no theme)

1991 Saturday 16 February
(no theme)

1992 Saturday 29 February
(no theme)

1993 Saturday 27 February
(no theme)

1994 Saturday 5 March
We Are Family

1995 Saturday 4 March
Fairy Tales & Lesbian Legends

1996 Saturday 2 March
(no theme)

1997 Saturday 1 March
(no theme)

1998 Saturday 28 February
20 Years of (R)evolution

1999 Saturday 21 February
Equality in Diversity | Celebrate the Future

2000 Saturday 4 March
2000gether

2001 Saturday 3 March
Out There, Everywhere

2002 Saturday 2 March
Happy Mardi Gras!

2003 Saturday 1 March
25 Years of Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Bisexual and Queer Culture

2004 Saturday 6 March
Metamorphosis

2005 Saturday 5 March
Our Freedom, Your Freedom

2006 Saturday 4 March
Dance · Love · Radiate

2007 Saturday 3 March
Objects of Love

2008 Saturday 1 March
Brave New Worlds

2009 Saturday 7 March
Nations United

2010 Saturday 27 February
History of the World

2011 Saturday 5 March
Say Something

2012 Saturday 3 March
Infinite Love

2013 Saturday 2 March
Generations of Love

2014 Saturday 1 March
Kaleidoscope

2015 Saturday 7 March
Passion

2016 Saturday 6 March
Momentum

2017 Saturday 4 March
Creating Equality

2018 Saturday 3 March
40 Years of Evolution

2019 Saturday 2 March
Fearless

2020 Saturday 29 February
What Matters

2021 Saturday 6 March
Rise

2022 Saturday 5 March
United We Shine

2023 Saturday 25 February
WORLD PRIDE – Gather, Dream, Amplify

Our History

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