Carols in the Domain
Carols in the Domain is an annual Australian 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 has traditionally been held on the last Saturday before Christmas Eve exclusive; however, from 2016 it has been held on the last Sunday before Christmas Eve exclusive. Carols in the Domain has become one of Australia's largest free Christmas events.
History
Carols in the Domain was started in 1983 by former Qantas employee 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 chose The Salvation Army as the corresponding charity. The first Carols event in1983 was attended by 15,000 people. Hosts of the event have included presenters of morning program Sunrise particularly David Koch and Natalie Barr who have co-presented on several occasions, previous presenters have also included Andrew Daddo, Grant Denyer,, Kate Ritchie, and Barry Crocker, on.Hobbs was awarded an Order of Australia Medal 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.
In 1997, the naming rights sponsor was RAMS Home Loans. In 2004, the event was called "The Good Guys Good Kid Carols in the Domain". In 2005, the naming rights were assumed to be The Good Guys again, but Woolworths acquired the naming rights and renamed the event to "Woolworths Carols in the Domain", and has retained the name since.
As a mark of respect, organisers of the 2014 Carols in the Domain considered cancelling the event because of the Martin Place siege which took place in Sydney earlier that week, but instead decided to hold it, on Saturday 20 December. The 2014 Carols attracted approximately 80,000 people, and also included a tribute to those killed during the siege. Mark Vincent opened the evening by singing You Raise Me Up in honour of the victims, and a minute silence was held.
Charity
Carols in the Domain supports both The Salvation Army and The Salvation Army OASIS Youth Support Network through the sale of candle bags during the performance. Oasis seeks to assist homeless youths aged between 16–24 in the inner city of Sydney with emergency housing, case management and training.List of Past Events
All events have included a visit by Santa Claus, and music from local orchestras and choirs.| Date | Hosts | Guests | Orchestra and choir | Musical director | Refs |
| 20 December 1986 | Normie Rowe, Jackie Love, Fabulous Singlettes, Don Spencer | Sydney Conservatorium Orchestra and Chorale, Young Sydney Singers | |||
| 19 December 1987 | 2MBS FM Children's Choir | ||||
| 17 December 1988 | Ian Turpie | Normie Rowe | |||
| 22 December 1990 | Barry Crocker | Tina Arena, Jackie Trent, Jeanne Little, Grace Knight, Clare Gormley | Sydney Youth Orchestra, The Salvation Army Massed Choirs, Cafe of the Gate of Salvation | ||
| 21 December 1991 | Barry Crocker and Jackie Love | Judith Durham, David Hobson, Suzanne Clachair, Mickey and Minnie | The Australian Girls Choir | ||
| 19 December 1992 | Barry Crocker and Jackie Love | Jeanne Little, Suzanne Johnston, John Williamson, Georgie Parker, Tom Burlinson, Noel Ferrier, June Bronhill, The Tin Lids, Tony Hatch, Jackie Trent, and Disney | The Salvation Army Choir, The Sydney Youth Orchestra. | ||
| 18 December 1993 | Girlfriend, Toni Pearen, Jackie Love, Rob Guest, Suzanne Johnston, David Hobson, The Wiggles, Lee Kernaghan, and Tara Morice | Sydney Youth Orchestra, The Salvation Army Choir | |||
| 17 December 1994 | Rob Guest | Julie Anthony, Jeffrey Black, The 4 Trax, Eden Gaha, Gina Jeffreys, Toni Pearen, The Wiggles, Rick Price, Jackie Trent, Miriam Gormley, Cinderella Cast, Janice Breen Showgroup | Sydney Children's Choir, Philharmonic Choir, Sydney Youth Orchestra | ||
| 23 December 1995 | Rob Guest | Julie Anthony, Peter Cousens, Andrew Daddo, The Wiggles, Monica Trapaga, Home and Away's Tempany Deckert, Kate Ritchie and Katrina Hobbs, stars of Miss Saigon, Jennifer McGregor, Margaret Urlich, John Waters, Lisa McCune | Sydney Youth Orchestra, Philharmonic Choir, Victorian Boys' Choir | Michael Harvey | |
| 21 December 1996 | Noni Hazlehurst and John Jarratt | Belinda Emmett, Julia Morris, Human Nature, Troy Cassar-Daley, Georgie Parker and Jim Walton, Miriam Gormley, Roger Lemke, Gregory Tomlinson, Peter Cousens and Maree Johnson, Sharon Millerchip, Adriana de Caires, Peter Combe, Sesame Street cast, Disney Channel, Disney's Snow White, the Prince, and Dopey, The Wiggles, Janice Breen Showgroup. | Sydney Philharmonia Choir, Sydney Youth Orchestra, Victorian Boys' Choir | Michael Harvey | |
| 20 December 1997 | Noni Hazlehurst and John Jarratt | Ghillian Sullivan, Roger Lemke, Hugh Jackman, Monica Trapaga, Home and Away stars, Madison McKoy, Disney Channel's Mickey, Minnie, Chip and Dale, Santa Goofy, Pluto, Donald, The Wiggles, Janice Breen Showgroup | Michael Harvey | ||
| 19 December 1998 | Hugh Jackman | Belinda Emmett, CDB, Monica Trapaga, Suzanne Johnson, David Hobson, Peter Cousens, Dan Tullis Jr., Simon Gallaher, Georgie Parker, Peter Combe, Janice Breen Showgroup, The Wiggles, Disney Channel | Sydney Youth Orchestra, University of Western Sydney Choir, Leichhardt Espresso Chorus | Michael Harvey | |
| 18 December 1999 | Andrew Daddo and Belinda Emmett | Vanessa Amorosi, Lisa McCune and The Sound of Music's Von Trapp children, Vika and Linda, The Wiggles, Adam Brand, Ignatius Jones, Disney Channel, Monica Trapaga, Janice Breen Showgroup | Michael Harvey | ||
| 23 December 2000 | Andrew Daddo and Katrina Warren | Anthony Warlow, Amelia Farrugia, Peter Hobson, Nikki Webster, Belinda Emmett, Adam Brand, Bardot, Jimmy Little, Todd McKenney, Caroline Craig, Glenn Shorrock, Rachel Marley, Doug Parkinson, Danielle G'aha, Tim Draxl, Morgan Crowley, Maryanne Fogarty, The Wiggles, Disney with Monica Trapaga, Janice Breen Showgroup | Sydney Youth Orchestra, Singers 2000, Australian Youth Choir, Beethoven Society | Michael Harvey | |
| 22 December 2001 | Andrew Daddo and Katrina Warren | Caroline Craig, Nikki Webster, Sister2Sister, Simon Burke, Bardot, Rob Guest, Clare Gormley, Troy Cassar-Daley, Georgie Parker, Hayley Westenra, Beccy Cole, Amelia Farrugia, Scandal'us, The Wiggles, Monica Trapaga, The Disney Channel with Colin Buchanan, Mickey and Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Daisy, Pluto, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Janice Breen Showgroup | Sydney Youth Orchestra, Tenor Australis, Beethoven Society Choir | Michael Harvey | |
| 21 December 2002 | Andrew Daddo and Katrina Warren | Rob Guest, Julie Anthony, Adam Brand, Rebecca Cartwright, Tom Burlinson, Caroline Craig, Cameron Daddo, Belinda Emmett, David Hobson, Marcia Hines, Melinda Schneider, Selwyn, Shu Cheen Yu, Katie Underwood, Wayne Scott Kermond, Scott Cain, Daniel Bowden, Natasha Lee, Carolettes, The Wiggles, Disney Channel, Janice Breen Showgroup, John Farnham | Sydney Youth Orchestra, Beethoven Society Choir, Australian Girls Choir, Jubilation Gospel Choir | Michael Harvey | |
| 20 December 2003 | Andrew Daddo and Katrina Warren | Kane Alexander, Julie Anthony, Rachael Beck, The Carolettes, Troy Cassar-Daley, Peter Cousens, Eran, Amelia Farrugia, David Hobson, Stars of The Lion King, Todd McKenney, Mercury 4, Amanda Muggleton, Georgie Parker, s2s, Melinda Schneider, Katie Underwood, The Wiggles, Disney Channel, Janice Breen Showgroup | Sydney Youth Orchestra, Beethoven Society Choir, Australian Girls Choir, Jubilation Gospel Choir | Michael Harvey | |
| 18 December 2004 | Andrew Daddo and Bec Cartwright | Kane Alexander, Rachael Beck, Ian Stenlake, Bella, Tim Campbell, Cosima De Vito, Clare Gormley, David Hobson, Janice Breen Showgroup, Lee Kernaghan, Todd McKenney, Andrew O'Keefe, Chloe Dallimore, Guy Sebastian, Reg Livermore, Cast of We Will Rock You, Ross Wilson, Shu Cheen Yu, The Wiggles | Sydney Youth Orchestra, Beethoven Society Choir, Australian Girls Choir, Jubilation Gospel Choir | Michael Harvey | |
| 17 December 2005 | Andrew Daddo and Jennifer Hawkins | Todd McKenney, Sophie Monk, Shannon Noll, the Janice Breen Showgroup, Georgie Parker, Paulini, Human Nature, Christine Anu, Nikki Webster, Tim Campbell, Adam Brand, Beccy Cole, Amelia Farrugia, Tenor Australis, a Disney spectacular, The Wiggles, Patrizio Buanne, Leo Sayer, David Hasselhoff | Sydney Youth Orchestra, The Salvation Army Choir, Jubilation | Michael Harvey | |
| 16 December 2006 | Grant Denyer and Shelley Craft | Adam Harvey, Chloe Dallimore, Damien Leith, David Hobson, Deni Hines, Guy Sebastian, Human Nature, Jade MacRae, The Janice Breen Showgroup, Melinda Schneider, MiG, Rachael Beck, Raggs, The Wiggles, Tim Campbell, Young Divas, Yvonne Kenny | Sydney Youth Orchestra, The Salvation Army Choir, Australian Girls Choir, Jubilation | Michael Harvey | |
| 22 December 2007 | Kate Ritchie and Grant Denyer | Tina Arena, Yvonne Kenny, Christine Anu, Tim Campbell, Rachael Beck, Adam Brand, Troy Cassar-Daley, Songbirds, Raggs, The Wiggles, Doug Parkinson, Human Nature, Paulini, Janice Breen Showgroup, David Hobson, Ricki-Lee Coulter, Ross Wilson, Alvin and the Chipmunks | Sydney Youth Orchestra, The Salvation Army Choir, Australian Girls Choir, Jubilation, Australian Contemporary Singers | Michael Harvey, Jamie Rigg | |
| 20 December 2008 | Kate Ritchie and Grant Denyer | Brian McFadden, Shannon Noll, Guy Sebastian, Paulini, Delta Goodrem, Charli Robinson, Melinda Schneider, David Hobson, High School Musical on Stage!, Christine Anu & Deni Hines, The Wiggles, University of Newcastle Chamber Choir, Rachael Beck, Amelia Farrugia, ARYA, Janice Breen Showgroup, Justine Clarke, Battle of the Choirs Judges | Sydney Youth Orchestra, Australian Girls Choir, The Salvation Army Choir, Jubilation Gospel Group | Jamie Rigg | |
| 19 December 2009 | Kate Ritchie and Grant Denyer | The Wiggles, Justine Clarke, Adam Brand, The McClymonts, Georgie Parker, Mark Vincent, cast of Wicked the Musical, Kasey Chambers, Poppa Bill and The Little Hillbillies, Katherine Jenkins, Kate Ceberano, Ronan Keating, Leo Sayer, Engelbert Humperdinck | Sydney Youth Orchestra, Australian Girls Choir, The Salvation Army Choir, Sydney Childrens Choir, Gondwana National Indigenous Children's Choir | Graeme Press | |
| 18 December 2010 | Grant Denyer and Kylie Gillies | The Wiggles, Janice Breen Showgroup, Georgie Parker, Mark Vincent, Felicity Urquhart, Greta Bradman, Charli Robinson, Jersey Boys, Troy Cassar-Daley, Straalen McCallum, Josh Groban, Stan Walker, Justice Crew, Cassie Davis, Tap Dogs | Sydney Youth Orchestra, Australian Girls Choir | Graeme Press | |
| 17 December 2011 | Grant Denyer and Natalie Barr | Paulini, Amelia Farrugia, Cosentino, Judith Durham, The Fairies, Brian McFadden, Melinda Schneider, Georgie Parker, Todd McKenney, Danielle Spencer, Shannon Noll, Toybox, Damien Leith, Hugh Sheridan, David Campbell, Mark Vincent, Jack Vidgen, Tania Doko, Jay Laga’aia, Justice Crew, Michael Buble, Justine Clarke, cast of Annie the Musical, Katie Noonan & Elixir, Chloe Dallimore | Sydney Youth Orchestra, Australian Girls Choir, Jubilation Gospel Group, The Salvation Army Choir, Sydney Children's Choir | Graeme Press | |
| 22 December 2012 | Matt White and Natalie Barr | Sid & Scrat, Georgie Parker, Mark Vincent, Jay Laga'aia, Samantha Jade, The Collective, Rachael Beck, cast of Legally Blonde the Musical, The Wiggles, Jessica Mauboy, Ali McGregor, John Waters, The Ten Tenors, Doug Parkinson, Troy Cassar-Daley, Justice Crew, Johnny Ruffo, Rod Stewart, Emma Birdsall | Australian Girls Choir, The Salvation Army Choir, Sydney Youth Orchestra | Graeme Press | |
| 21 December 2013 | Matt White and Melissa Doyle | Tina Arena, Jimmy Barnes, The Wiggles, Jessica Mauboy, Human Nature, Samantha Jade, Johnny Ruffo, Stan Walker, Dami Im, Jai Waetford, Mark Vincent, Amanda Harrison, Justine Clarke, cast of Grease the Musical, cast of Strictly Ballroom the Musical, cast of Angelina Ballerina the Mousical, Kelly Clarkson | Sydney Youth Orchestra, Australian Girls Choir, Jubilation Gospel Group, The Salvation Army Choir | Graeme Press | |
| 20 December 2014 | David Koch, Samantha Armytage, Natalie Barr and Mark Beretta | Samantha Jade, Dami Im, Mark Vincent, Taylor Henderson, Lee Kernaghan, The McClymonts, Adam Garcia, Judith Durham, cast of Wicked the Musical, The Wiggles, Jay Laga'aia, Georgie Parker, Marlisa, Nathaniel Willemse, Paulini, Christine Anu, Doug Parkinson | The Salvation Army Choir, Australian Girls Choir, Jubilation Gospel Group | Graeme Press | |
| 19 December 2015 | David Koch, Samantha Armytage, Natalie Barr and Mark Beretta | Adam Brand, Cyrus Villanueva, Georgie Parker, Jay Laga'aia, Dami Im, Johnny Ruffo, Justice Crew, Justine Clarke, Ky Baldwin, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, Mark Vincent, Nathaniel Willemse, Samantha Jade, Swing on This, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, cast of The Sound of Music, The Wiggles | The Salvation Army Choir, The Australian girls choir, Jubilation Gospel Group | Graeme Press | |
| 18 December 2016 | David Koch, Samantha Armytage, Natalie Barr and Mark Beretta | Jessica Mauboy, Dami Im, Paulini Curuenavuli, Harrison Craig, The Wiggles, Swing on This, John Paul Young, Leo Sayer, The McClymonts, Georgie Parker, Todd McKenney, Shannon Noll, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Mark Vincent, Ky Baldwin, Jay Laga'aia and his 7/8 kids, Isaiah Firebrace, Natalie Ong, stars of Australian Opera | The Salvation Army Australia Choir, The Australian Girls Choir, Jubilation Gospel Group, and dancers from the Janice Breen Performance Studio. | Graeme Press | |
| 17 December 2017 | David Koch, Samantha Armytage, Natalie Barr and Mark Beretta | Dami Im, Todd McKenney, Big T, stars of Australian Opera, Adam Harvey & Beccy Cole, Mickey Mouse, Jay Lag'aia and his 7/8 kids, Lucy Durack, Samantha Jade, Justice Crew, Penny McNamee, cast of The Wizard of Oz: The Musical, Jersey Boys, Michael Cormick, Justine Clarke, The Wiggles, CBD, Katie Noonan | The Salvation Army Australia Choir, The Australian Girls Choir, Jubilation Gospel Group, and dancers from the Janice Breen Performance Studio | Graeme Press | |
| 22 December 2018 | David Koch, Samantha Armytage and Natalie Barr | The Wiggles, Penny McNamee, Jack Jones, Rachael Beck, Ashleigh Rubenach, the leads from Muriel's Wedding the Musical-Natalie Abbott & Elizabeth Esguerra, Troy Cassar-Daley, Mickey Mouse, Todd McKenney, cast of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical, Ross Wilson, Thirsty Merc, Paulini Curuenavuli, Isaiah Firebrace, Matt Lee, The Tap Pack, Mark Vincent, Samantha Jade, stars of Australian Opera | The Salvation Army Australia Choir, The Australian Girls Choir, Jubilation Gospel Group, and dancers from the Janice Breen Performance Studio, the Sydney youth orchestra | Graeme Press | |
| 21 December 2019 | David Koch and Natalie Barr | Paulini, Penny McNamee, Vanessa Amorosi, Shannon Noll, Adam Brand, Lucy Durack, Harrison Craig, Todd McKenney, Mark Vincent, Mirusia Louwerse, The Wiggles, Mickey Mouse, Ashleigh Rubenach, Olina Loau, Jay Laga’aia and family, Hans the German | The Salvation Army Australia Choir, The Australian Girls Choir, The Sydney Male Choir, the Sydney Youth Orchestra and dancers from the Janice Breen Performance Studio & ED5 International | Graeme Press |