BGM_Long Live the Kings Weekend

What does the King’s Birthday Long Weekend actually mean in Naarm - Melbourne. In this special episode of Down the Yarra, we dive intro the past, present, and future of one of city’s most curious public holidays. From the old colonial days pageantry to footy fever at the ‘G’, from fireworks on the Birrarung (the Yarra) to the growing calls for reflection and change, this episode unpacks the contradictions of a weekend that’s more about Naarm - Melbourne than the British monarchy. We explore its royal roots of a public holiday, its transformation into a local winter ritual, and the cultural complexities that come with honouring the crown on stolen lands. Plus- where to go, what to do, and how the city makes this long weekend to very much its own thing. Trigger Warning: This episode contains references to colonisation, war, and systematic inequality. Teaser: Next up, we visit Naarm - Melbourne’s iconic Young & Jackson- and the women who’s been watching over the CBD go by for well over a century from the pub’s upstairs wall - Chloe. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Threads for more stories, photos, as well as more behind- the - screens content.