Carols in the Domain
| Carols in the Domain | |
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The Domain, Sydney, the venue of the Carols
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| Genre | Christmas, pop |
| Dates | Last Sunday before Christmas |
| Location(s) | The Domain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Founded by | Robyn Hobbs |
| Website | |
| www |
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Carols in the Domain is an annual Christmas concert event held in the Domain Gardens in Sydney. It began in 1983, and features many national and international performers and guest appearances. it is broadcast around Australia on the Seven Network and simulcast on Smooth FM. The free event is held on the last Saturday before Christmas. From 2016 it will be held on the last Sunday before Christmas Day. and has become one of Australia's largest free Christmas events.
Carols in the Domain was started by Robyn Anne Hobbs, who observed Christmas carol events in Australia and wanted to develop one for Sydney. In an article in The Sydney Morning Herald, she said "I suppose I started Carols in the Domain from a purely selfish point of view because I'm an only child and Christmas and birthdays were always wonderful occasions to celebrate and yet Sydney didn't really have a major Christmas celebration." She had worked with Qantas and chose The Salvation Army as the charity. The first Carols event was held in 1983 and was attended by 15,000 people. Hosts have included Andrew Daddo, who has presented the event on seven occasions, followed by Grant Denyer, 5 occasions, Kate Ritchie, 3 occasions and Barry Crocker, on 3 occasions, others include Noni Hazlehurst and John Jarrett
Hobbs was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM – General Division) in 2009 for services to the community in founding Carols in the Domain and her fundraising efforts for the Salvation Army
The main sponsor is designated with naming rights. In 1989, the main sponsor was Esso. In 1996, the main sponsor was Pacific Power, however, because the government had split up the company, they could not fund the sponsorship, but the state government stepped in to sponsor the event, pledging over AUS$300,000. The event was televised for the first time to New Zealand on TVNZ and Southeast Asia on Australia Television.The Sydney Morning Herald also became a sponsor for the event.
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