Moomba moments and memories
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A look back through the years at Melbourne’s historic Moomba moments. Exotic floats, protests against Vietnam, happy crowds, entertainers, dancers, glamor girls and Moomba monarchs.
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Moomba, Melbourne 1977Credit:Fairfax Archives
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Police and civilians drag student anti-Vietnam protesters off the road as they interrupted the 1966 Moomba parade. Credit:Dennis Bull
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An unofficial anti-Vietnam demonstration in the Moomba parade caused some commotion at the official party on the steps of the City Hall. Two young men carried a girl on a stretcher daubed with red paint. A sheet hanging from the stretcher read: “Remember the dead in Vietnam.” The trio were peacefully led out of the parade by police in 1969. Credit:Fairfax photographic
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Police and civilians drag student anti-Vietnam protesters off the road as they interrupted the 1966 Moomba parade. Credit:Dennis Bull
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Phil Carroll plays the Zurna while Boris the camel continues to sing. On the right is the camel’s owner, Kevin Handley from Woodend, 2002.Credit:Melanie Faith Pigeon
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The crowd follows the Moomba parade and walks along Swanston Street towards Alexandra Gardens. Photo taken on Princess Bridge overlooking Swanston Street. Flinders Street Station is on the left and St Paul’s Cathedral on the right, 1979.Credit:John Lamb
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Johnny Farnham/John Farnham, named King of Moomba, 1972. Credit:Fairfax photographic
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LR Victorian Premier Dick Hamer and Melbourne Mayor Irvin Rockman enjoy the Moomba Parade, 1979.Credit:John Lamb
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Victoria’s Prime Minister Dick Hamer – complete with a teddy bear biscuit hat and a toy whistle – was one of the side attractions of Melbourne’s 21st Moomba Parade, 1975.Credit:Fairfax photographic
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Moomba ballroom dance champions – precision dance team, 1965.Credit:Fairfax Archives
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A new dance rocked the foundations of City Hall at the Moomba Go-Go. Miss California, Misty Rowe, 19, a go-go teacher and champion, gave the mayor, Cr. Ted Best, a lesson in true Moomba style. Part Cherokee, part Swedish, and part English, Misty is one of the participants in the Queen of the Pacific Quest. They will be in the Moomba parade. circa 1969Credit:Terry Philan
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Vivien North has been making tea for Moomba organizers for 30 years, 1997.Credit:Tina Haynes
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American water skier Sammy Duval demonstrates his skills during a practice run for the 1980 Moomba Master water ski championship.Credit:Fairfax Media
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Crowds at the Moomba Carnival, 2003.Credit:Roger Cummins
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Melbourne Moomba Festival 1998. Nightly street glamor and ritz parade as part of the Ritmo Latino, featuring Latin music.Credit:Fairfax Archives
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Crowds at the Moomba Carnival, 2003.Credit:Roger Cummins
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Sophie Wong looks at the last day ride of Moomba, 1999.Credit:Jason South
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35 dancers from the Chandrabanu Bharatalaya Academy of Indian Dance make their way down Swanston Street in Moomba Parade, 2001.Credit:Simon Schluter
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Melbourne Moomba Festival March 1998. New Aquascreen Show with film images projected onto a curtain of water, above the Yarra River.Credit:Fairfax Archives
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Fawez Saleh of Middle Park sits back and prepares to shoot in the Nunawading Kiwanis club’s Spit the Dummy match, part of Moomba festivities on Swanston Walk, 1997.Credit:Simon O’Dwyer
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Herb Patten teaches eager listeners the art of playing a gum leaf, to his right are Jamie Curran and Luke Cauchi at Moomba in Treasury Gardens, 2002.Credit:Melanie Faith Pigeon
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Bek Anning (L) and Megan Cameron (R), both 18 years old, move to the sounds of “Break Dance” during a ride in Moomba, 2002.Credit:Matthijs Bouwmeester
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Traditional laughing clowns (these are between 20 and 30 years old) are still popular at the Moomba Carnivale in Alexandra Gardens, part of the Melbourne Moomba Festival, 2002.Credit:Neil Newitt
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Zig (R) and Zag (L) in the Moomba parade, 1993. Jack Perry (Zig) and Doug Mckenzie (Zag)Credit:Craig Sillitoe
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Moomba trams in parade, from Sydney tram museum No. 1692, an Italian tram from Milian. 2002.Credit:Andrew De La Rue
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Prizes waiting to be won at the Moomba Carnivale at Alexandra Gardens, part of the Melbourne Moomba Festival, 2002.Credit:Neil Newitt
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Indigenous dancers perform at the street party as part of the city’s Moomba festivities. 2011.Credit:Simon O’Dwyer
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Crowned Monarch of Moomba, Denise Drysdale on the roof of Melbourne Town Hall, 1998.Credit:Heather Miss
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Moomba trams on parade, as crowds make their way across Princess Bridge, 2002.Credit:Andrew De La Rue
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LR Mohamed 2yrs, Father Fehmi Altinsoy, Adem 4yrs and Mother Emine enjoying Moomba’s festivities on Swanston Walk. 1997.Credit:Simon O’Dwyer
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Girls from Quarter Acre Dream pose for photos during a street party for Moomba in the City, 2011.
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Moomba parade along Swanston Street, 2002.
Credit:Andrew De La Rue
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Kids on a Moomba ride, 1999.Credit:Sandy Scheltema
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The Rainbow ride at the Moomba Carnivale in Alexandra Gardens, part of the Melbourne Moomba Festival, 2002.Credit:Neil Newitt
