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Australian Scout Jamboree

{{Short description|Australian triennial or quadrennial large-scale youth event}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{infobox WorldScouting

| image =

| caption = Scouts Australia Logo

| name = Scouts Australia

| headquarters =

| country = Australia

| f-date = 1908

| founder = Lord Baden Powell

}}

The Australian Scout Jamboree is a national jamboree overseen by Scouts Australia. They have been held regularly since 1934, except for 1942 and 1945 due to World War II, and in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jamborees are generally held early in January and typically runs for ten nights.

The first jamboree in 1934 was held in Frankston, Victoria, and was attended by the World Chief Scout, Robert Baden-Powell.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92363100 |title=Scout Jamboree at Frankston |newspaper=Chronicle |volume=LXXVII |issue=40,178 |location=South Australia |date=10 January 1935 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=33 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article220852631 |title=Jamboree: Camp at Frankston |newspaper=Crookwell Gazette |volume=LI |issue=8 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=16 January 1935 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} The Frankston district still uses the original Jamboree logo as its district emblem.

Early events

The 1st World Scout Jamboree was at Olympia London in July/August 1920, and there were Australian and Australian state contingents to this and the subsequent international jamborees.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65023891 |title=Boy Scouts' Jamboree |newspaper=The Register (Adelaide) |volume=LXXXV |issue=22,860 |location=South Australia |date=14 February 1920 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article219007070 |title=Scout jamboree |newspaper=Daily Mail (Brisbane) |issue=7063 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=16 October 1924 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129135827 |title=Scout Jamboree |newspaper=News |volume=XII |issue=1,820 |location=South Australia |date=16 May 1929 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=18 (Home edition) |via=National Library of Australia}} Whilst the 1934 Frankston jamboree was designated the 'first' Australian Jamboree, there were earlier events. Australians also attended a jamboree in Dunedin, New Zealand, in January 1926.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article141408285 |title=Scout jamboree in New Zealand |newspaper=The Australasian |volume=CXX |issue=4,023 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=6 February 1926 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=72 (Metropolitan edition) |via=National Library of Australia}}

The January 1922 Scout corroboree at the Sydney Showgrounds totalled over 540 youth members (with a Victorian contingent of 90 scouts, South Australia with 100, Queensland with 100, and Sydney northern district between 250 and 300 scouts).{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article246446525 |title=Scout Corroboree |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) |issue=13,307 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=4 January 1922 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}} The January 1923 Scout corroboree in Melbourne saw a NSW contingent of 920 scouts.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article245825454 |title=Scout corroboree |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) |issue=13,618 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=3 January 1923 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}} The 'all-Australian Scout Corroboree' of January 1924 in Adelaide expected about 1500 scouts,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article212254932 |title=All-Australian Scout Corroboree |newspaper=Critic |volume=XXXV |issue=1350 |location=South Australia |date=9 January 1924 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}} with a NSW contingent of 500 scouts, Victoria of 400, Queensland of 50, a first time with Western Australia of 30, and Tasmania of 25 scouts.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article235911610 |title=Boy Scout Movement |newspaper=The Corowa Free Press |volume=97 |issue=4784 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=8 January 1924 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} Activities included tent pitching, fire lighting, billy boiling, trek card obstacle race, and cyclist stretcher races.

From 15 January 1927, the Lake Sorrell reservoir, {{convert|40|mi}} from Hobart, Tasmania was the site of an all-Australian 'jamboree' with about 300 Scouts.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3819984 |title=Scout jamboree in Tasmania |newspaper=The Argus (Melbourne) |issue=25,039 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=9 November 1926 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=21 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article180604373 |title=Scouts' Jamboree |newspaper=The Telegraph (Brisbane) |issue=16880 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=8 January 1927 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=2 (Second edition) |via=National Library of Australia}} Limited to First Class (award) scouts, after the event it was also referred to as the 'all Australian Corroboree', the New South Wales contingent having 151 participants.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article194464085 |title=All Australian Corroboree |newspaper=Manilla Express |volume=XXIX |issue=14 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=18 February 1927 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}} By this time, the word 'jamboree' was becoming more known.

Corroborees continued with the Seventh 'All-Australian' Scout Corroboree at coastal Lake Illawarra, NSW in January 1930,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article213797767 |title=Australian Scout Corroboree |newspaper=The Nowra Leader |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=17 January 1930 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}} with the 1936 Australian Scout Corroboree looking like a national jamboree: 26 December 1936 to 4 January 1937, Belair National Park, South Australia, of 4000 scouts with contingents including all Australian states, Ceylon, Nauru, New Zealand, and South Africa.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article96661153 |title=The Scout Corroboree |newspaper=Bunyip |issue=4,512 |location=South Australia |date=22 May 1936 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article95835979 |title=Brotherhood City |newspaper=Recorder |issue=11,778 |location=South Australia |date=6 January 1937 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article97772917 |title=Australian Boy Scout Centenary Corroboree |newspaper=Northern Argus) |volume=LXVIII |issue=3,637 |location=South Australia |date=15 January 1937 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Administration

File:SLNSW 23271 Scouts Jamboree Lindfield.jpg, 1 July 1939]]

Traditionally, Australian Jamborees were hosted on a rotational basis, with the order of hosting being South Australia, Victoria, Queensland, and New South Wales.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

Each Scouting Branch (State) is the effective host of the jamboree and takes responsibility for its management. The host for the next jamboree has been opened to a tendering process.

Australian jamborees are held on a triennial basis. Following AJ2025, Scouts Australia planned to move to a quadrennial basis,{{cite web |title=FAQs: What is a jamboree? When is the next Australian Scout Jamboree? |url=https://www.aj2025.com.au/faq |website=26th Australian Jamboree |publisher=Scouts Queensland |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=2025}} however this decision was reversed. The next Australian jamboree will be held in January 2028.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8JpTNKtKns |title=Closing Ceremony: AJ2025 - 26th Australian Jamboree |date=15 January 2025 |last=Australian Jamboree |access-date=18 January 2025 |via=YouTube}}

By world standards, Australian jamborees are medium-sized, with the largest jamborees being held in Europe and North America and generally hosting between 35,000 and 40,000 participants.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

Organisational structure

=Committee=

The Jamboree Executive Committee (JEC) has the primary task of organising and running the event. The host state takes the responsibility for forming a JEC from local scouts and scouters.

=Contingents=

The largest organisational unit of the jamboree is a contingent. There is one contingent for each of the Australian States and Territories, a contingent representing the national leadership of Scouts Australia, as well as New Zealand and other international contingents.

A unit consists of about 36 Scouts, six patrols of youth members and six to seven leaders. Each unit shares a common camping area where they will cook, sleep and socialise for the duration of the jamboree. Units are generally made up of members of the same state contingent, and overseas contingents are mixed into domestic units.

Youth members in units are further subdivided into patrols of five or six Scouts. The most experienced Scout is generally given the task of being 'patrol leader' ('PL'), and another experienced Scout is assigned as 'assistant patrol leader' ('APL'). Scouts work in patrols for all activities and tasks during the jamboree. PLs are given special prizes and a special lunch to acknowledge the important task they carry out.

Scouts must be between the age of 11 and 14; although in AJ2025, this included Venturer Scouts. Typically, attendees must also have earned badges for Milestone 1, Outdoor Adventure Skills Stage 3 in Bushcraft, Bushwalking, and Camping, and slept ten nights under canvas at scout activities.{{cite web |title=Who can attend. Scouts |url=https://www.aj2025.com.au/who-can-attend |website=26th Australian Jamboree |publisher=Scouts Queensland |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=2025}} Participants are expected to cook for themselves, keeping their sleeping area and campsite clean and tidy, participate in their assigned activities, and cope with the experience of being away from home for the period of the jamboree.

=Subcamps=

A jamboree campsite may be broken up into several subcamps. Each subcamp will contain troop-lines of units from various contingents, each site usually having a decorated gateway. The subcamps are named according to the jamboree. For instance, the service leaders subcamp at the 13th Jamboree at Collingwood Park was named Nyeri, the home of Scouting's founder.

For AJ2025 in Queensland, the three youth subcamps were Fraser Coast (region), Tuan (state forest), Cheeli (named for {{Not a typo|Cheelii}} lagoon), and two service leader subcamps were Wook-Koo (nearby First Nations park) and Mungomery (vine forest).{{cite web |title=AJ2025 Subcamp Names & Meanings |url=https://www.aj2025.com.au/post/aj2025-subcamp-names |website=26th Australian Jamboree |publisher=Scouts Queensland |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=30 October 2024}} An additional subcamp informally named K'Gari (island) hosted members of the Jamboree Executive Committee.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

List of jamborees

class="wikitable sortable"
scope="col"|No.

! scope="col"|Name

! scope="col"|Location

! Dates

! Participants

! Notes

1

| –

| data-sort-value="Vic, Frankston" | Frankston, Victoria

| data-sort-value="1934-12-27" | 27 December 1934 to 7 January 1935

| 11,500 youth members{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article277077300 |title=With troop and company: Frankston Jamboree Outstanding International Event |newspaper=The Sun News-pictorial |issue=3784 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=3 November 1934 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=31 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| Attended by Lord and Lady Baden-Powell.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article270456940 |title=Scouting: Some thoughts and impressions of the Frankston Jamboree |newspaper=Kyabram Free Press and Rodney and Deakin Shire Advocate |location=Victoria, Australia |date=15 January 1935 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} Overseas contingents from at least nine countries, and up to 1,000 Girl Guides.

2

| –

| data-sort-value="NSW, Sydney, Bradfield" | Bradfield, Sydney, New South Wales

| data-sort-value="1938-12-29" | 29 December 1938 to 9 January 1939{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243357437 |title=Scouts fold tents at Bradfield |newspaper=The Herald |issue=19,234 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=9 January 1939 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| 9,000{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article46290925 |title=Scouts march out |newspaper=The West Australian |volume=55 |issue=16,389 |location=Western Australia |date=10 January 1939 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| Attended by Deputy World Chief Scout, Lord Hampton. Five sub-camps. Overseas contingents were from England, Scotland, France, South Africa, India, Ceylon, and Nauru.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article280271954 |title=Boy scouts gather: Visit of jamboree organiser |newspaper=The Pastoral Times |volume=LXXIX |issue=4754 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=4 November 1938 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} Some newspapers of the time called it a world jamboree,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135467738 |title=Jamboree ends |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate |issue=19,421 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=9 January 1939 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}} but it was not recognised as such. It was estimated to have had 120,000 visitors. Site is now part of West Lindfield suburb.

–

| –

| data-sort-value="Tas" | Launceston, Tasmania

| data-sort-value="1942-01-00" |1942

| –

| Not held due to World War II. The Boy Scouts' Association of Tasmania sought in June 1939 to host a national, Empire, or world jamboree to mark the tercentenary of the European discovery of the island on 24 November 1642, at the Punchbowl Reserve, Launceston.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52317046 |title=Jamboree for Launceston |newspaper=The Examiner (Tasmania) |volume=XCVIII |issue=94 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=1 July 1939 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=6 (Latest news edition and Daily) |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article46403855 |title=World Scout Jamboree |newspaper=The West Australian |volume=55 |issue=16,534 |location=Western Australia |date=30 June 1939 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=20 |via=National Library of Australia}} To go before the national council in Hobart in October 1939,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article62440775 |title=Scout jamoree |newspaper=Townsville Daily Bulletin |volume=LXI |issue=157 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=3 July 1939 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} it was unforeseen that Australia would be at war on 3 September 1939.

3

| Pan-Pacific Jamboree

| data-sort-value="Vic, Wonga Park" |Clifford Park, Wonga Park, Victoria

| data-sort-value="1948-12-00" | December 1948

| 10,000

| Also billed as the Pan-Pacific Jamboree.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article95706859 |title=Scouts' Jamboree |newspaper=Kalgoorlie Miner |volume=54 |issue=14,376 |location=Western Australia |date=31 December 1948 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} Attended by the World Chief Scout, Lord Rowallan. Overseas contingents from at least twenty countries, including Canada, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaya, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Pakistan (20 scouts), Philippines (24 scouts), South Africa, and lone scouts from France and Lebanon.{{cite journal |journal=Queensland Scouters' The Totem |title=Jamboreee edition |date=January 1949 |page=18 |url=https://collections.slq.qld.gov.au/viewer/IE2318883 |access-date=18 January 2025 |publisher=The Boy Scouts Association (Queensland Branch)}} Girl Guides also assisted, mostly in the hospital. Held on the {{convert|1000|acre}} property 'Yarra Brae', of Hon. Lewis Clifford.{{Cite web|title=Wonga Park|url=https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/wonga-park|website=Victorian Places}} Subcamps were numbered.

4

| Pan-Pacific Jamboree

| data-sort-value="NSW, Sydney, Greystanes" | Greystanes, Sydney, New South Wales

| data-sort-value="1952-12-29" | 29 December 1952 to 9 January 1953{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75595881 |title=Pan-Pacific Jamboree |newspaper=The Biz |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=26 June 1952 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| 11,000{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article248878643 |title=Jamboree at Greystanes has its lesson |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) |volume=XVII |issue=244 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=2 January 1953 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| Site was on loaned Blue Metal Quarries Limited land.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75593327 |title=Pan-Pacific Jamboree |newspaper=The Biz |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=6 December 1951 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}} Overseas contingents from at least fifteen countries. Campsite streets were named after explorers, such as 'Burke and Wills Trail'.

5

| Pan-Pacific Jamboree

| data-sort-value="Vic, Wonga Park" |Clifford Park, Wonga Park, Victoria

| data-sort-value="1955-12-28" | 28 December 1955 to 9 January 1956{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article267433576 |title=Scout Jamboree at "Clifford Park" Wonga Park |newspaper=The Lilydale Express |location=Victoria, Australia |date=2 December 1955 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| 12,000{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article267433567 |title=Organisation—7 Mile of Roads, Bulldozers Working Overtime |newspaper=The Lilydale Express |location=Victoria, Australia |date=2 December 1955 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| Held on the {{convert|1000|acre}} property 'Yarra Brae', of Hon. Lewis Clifford. Featured a 'Boomerang Arch' gateway. Considered the wettest Australian jamboree and nicknamed the 'Mudboree'.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230369132 |title=Scout to star at jamboree OPENING |newspaper=Jamboree Daily |location=Victoria, Australia |date=31 December 1976 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}

6

| 6th

| data-sort-value="NSW, Sydney, Lansdowne" | Lansdowne, Sydney, New South Wales

| data-sort-value="1960-12-29" | 29 December 1960 to 9 January 1961{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103983240 |title=Australian Jamboree |newspaper=The Western Herald |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=23 December 1960 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| 15,000{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article190741802 |title=Chief Scout for Lansdowne |newspaper=The Biz |issue=2812 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=13 April 1960 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| Sixteen overseas contingents. Public open day on Sunday, 1 January 1961. Cub Day on Tuesday, 3 January 1961 saw 8,000 wolf cubs attend.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133924952 |title=8,000 cubs invade scout jamboree |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=35 |issue=9,800 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=3 January 1961 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}} World Chief Scout Sir Charles Maclean to attend. Senior Scouts would venture with Paddy Pallin, through the Blue Mountains. Seven sub-camps over {{convert|40|acre}} site.

7

| 7th

| data-sort-value="Vic, Dandenong" | Dandenong, Victoria

| data-sort-value="1964-12-29" | 29 December 1964 to 8 January 1965

| 16,000{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article266954457 |title=Scouts return from Jamboree |newspaper=Port Lincoln Times |volume=XXXVIII |issue=2012 |location=South Australia |date=21 January 1965 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article282258225 |title=7th Australian Jamboree |newspaper=The Broadford Courier |location=Victoria, Australia |date=23 October 1964 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| Jamboree award of 'Southern Cross Award' for scouts, and 'Capricornian Award' for senior scouts. Activities included Skillorama, Challenge Valley, Gang Show, New Year's Day concert. Held on site of old police paddocks, {{convert|3|mi}} north of Dandenong, covering {{convert|700|acres}}. Overseas contingents from at least seven countries, as well as Girl Guides. Eight sub-camps. World Chief Scout Sir Charles Maclean officially closed the jamboree.

8

| 8th

| data-sort-value="Qld, Brisbane, Jindalee" | Jindalee, Brisbane, Queensland

| data-sort-value="1967-12-28" | 28 December 1967 to 6 January 1968{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article281701689 |title=S.A. Scouts off to Jamboree |newspaper=The Standard |issue=323 |location=South Australia |date=19 December 1967 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| 15,000

| Theme of 'The dawn of friendship'.{{cite web |title=Jindalee Scout Jamboree 1967-68 – commemorated in 2007 (PDF) |url=https://cshsoc.org.au/articles/ |website=Centenary Suburbs Historical Society Inc. |access-date=19 January 2025 |date=27 December 2007}} Well-forested area even after 14,000 tent poles cut. Jamboree award of 'Southern Cross Award' for scouts, and 'Capricornian Award' for senior scouts.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article107039050 |title=Scouts head for Brisbane jamboree |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=42 |issue=11,882 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=28 December 1967 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}} Overseas contingents from at least eighteen countries. For Tasmanian scouts, they had to be 13 years-of-age by the jamboree, and would cost A$106 (in 2022, about A$1,510), travelling by train from Melbourne to Brisbane.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article264714133 |title=Scout Jamboree |newspaper=King Island News |volume=51 |issue=2834 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=17 May 1967 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}} The site today is around Bilga Street, Middle Park suburb, near Jamboree Heights (GPS {{coord

27.552858|152.927858}}).{{cite web |title=8th Australian Jamboree |url=https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/culture/community/display/99415-8th-australian-jamboree- |website=Monument Australia |access-date=19 January 2025}}
9

| 9th; Jamboree of New Endeavour{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article250227623 |title=Scouts working for jamboree |newspaper=Papua New Guinea Post-Courier |location=International, Australia |date=28 April 1970 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110446041 |title=City of tents rises for jamboree |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=45 |issue=12,694 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=29 December 1970 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| data-sort-value="NSW, Sydney, Leppington" | Leppington, Sydney, New South Wales

| data-sort-value="1970-12-29" | 29 December 1970 to 9 January 1971

| 15,000
(12,000 youth members, 3,000 adults{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article250244965 |title=76 in PNG jamboree scout group |newspaper=Papua New Guinea Post-Courier |location=International, Australia |date=30 September 1970 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}})

| Celebrating the Captain Cook Bicentennial. Overseas contingents from at least seven countries. Participant cost about A$155 (in 2022, about A$2,020), must be between 12 and 15, reached Second Class scout, and ten nights under canvas.

10

| 10th

| data-sort-value="SA, Piccadilly" | Woodhouse, Piccadilly, South Australia

| data-sort-value="1973-12-28" | 28 December 1973 to 6 January 1974{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214999134 |title=Local scouts to go jamboree |newspaper=Hamersley News |volume=VI |issue=18 |location=Western Australia |date=27 September 1973 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| 12,000{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214545313 |title=Scouts return from international Jamboree |newspaper=Hamersley News |volume=VII |issue=2 |location=Western Australia |date=24 January 1974 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=13 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| Scouts had to be between 12 and 15, hold the Second Class/Pioneer badge under the 'New Design' scheme, at least ten nights under canvas, able to do own laundry and mending, and pass the 'jamboree cooks' test. The peak award is the 'Jamboree Pentathlon Award'.

11

| 11th

| data-sort-value="Vic, Dandenong" | Rossmoyne Park, Dandenong, Victoria

| data-sort-value="1976-12-29" | 29 December 1976 to 6 January 1977{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230368526 |title=Fireworks to finish |newspaper=Jamboree Daily |location=Victoria, Australia |date=6 January 1977 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| 14,000

| Due to a total fire ban, the A$800 opening ceremony fireworks display was cancelled, but held for the closing ceremony. The event newspaper was called the '[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/24969995 Rossmoyne Rag]'.

12

| 12th

| data-sort-value="WA, Perth" | Perry Lakes, Perth, Western Australia

| data-sort-value="1979-12-29" | 29 December 1979 to 7 January 1980{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137008960 |title=Varied activities at Perth jamboree |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=54 |issue=16,183 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=16 January 1980 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=16 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| 9,400
(8,000 youth members,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110975927 |title=Scouts leave for jamboree |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=54 |issue=16,165 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=29 December 1979 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} 1,400 adults, 1,800 overseas scoutsFor 12th Australian Jamboree, not able to determine if youth numbers include or are separate to overseas scout numbers.)

| Fourth Asia-Pacific Scout Jamboree (and first held in Australia). The first jamboree in Western Australia, and the 150th year of the founding of the State.

13

| 13th

| data-sort-value="Qld, Ipswich, Collingwood Park" | Collingwood Park, Ipswich, Queensland

| data-sort-value="1982-12-00" | December 1982 to January 1983

| 19,600{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article255033209 |title=Two local scouts attend jamboree Australian |newspaper=Nota |volume=13 |issue=2 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=1 March 1983 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| With the 75th anniversary of Scouting in Australia, there was a pre-stamped envelope, showing B.-P., and a {{circa|1918}} youth membership certificate.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article130839157 |title=Envelope to mark Scouts' anniversary |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=57 |issue=17,257 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=28 December 1982 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}} Peak award was the 'Diamond Award', including participation in an obstacle course, go-kart racing, and a Brisbane discovery trip.

14

| 14th

| data-sort-value="NSW, Sydney, Cataract Park" | Cataract Scout Park, Sydney, New South Wales

| data-sort-value="1985-12-29" | 29 December 1985 to 9 January 1986{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article282020912 |title=Jamboree Fever Spreads |newspaper=The South-East Kingston Leader |volume=24 |issue=1104 |location=South Australia |date=12 September 1984 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article267248209 |title=Be prepared |newspaper=Royal Australian Navy News |volume=28 |issue=18 |location=Australia, Australia |date=4 October 1985 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| 16,000

| Theme of 'Adventure' with activities including 'Challenge Valley' and 'Bicycle bungle'.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article261571135 |title=Scout's jamboree |newspaper=The Australian Jewish News |volume=LII |issue=34 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=2 May 1986 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia}} The site was also used for the 16th World Scout Jamboree from 30 December 1987 to 10 January 1988.

15

| 15th; Great Mates Jamboree{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article258291508 |title=10,000 at recent Scouts 15th Jamboree |newspaper=Nota |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=1 February 1989 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| data-sort-value="SA, Piccadilly" | Woodhouse, Piccadilly, South Australia

| data-sort-value="1988-12-31" | 31 December 1988 to 9 January 1989

| 10,000

| Last official function of the Australian Bicentenary celebrations.

16

| AJ1992

| data-sort-value="Vic, Ballarat" | Ballarat, Victoria

| data-sort-value="1992-01-03" | 3 to 12 January 1992{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article258301582 |title=Scouts Jamboree set for Ballarat |newspaper=Nota |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=16 November 1991 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| 15,000{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118161876 |title=Ballarat-bound for jamboree hi-jinks |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=66 |issue=20,718 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=3 January 1992 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| Theme of 'Welcome stranger, farewell friend'. Overseas contingents from thirty countries, including three scouts and a leader in the first Russian overseas contingent in more than seventy years. Held at Victoria Park cricket pitches.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230368016 |title=Moving out, heading home |newspaper=Jamboree Daily |location=Victoria, Australia |date=11 January 1992 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=16 |via=National Library of Australia}}

17

| AJ 1994/1995

| data-sort-value="WA, Perth" | Perry Lakes, Perth, Western Australia

| data-sort-value="1994-12-30" | 30 December 1994 to 8 January 1995{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article261933107 |title=Scouts go west for jamboree |newspaper=The Australian Jewish News |volume=61 |issue=15 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=16 December 1994 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=30 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| 13,000

| Theme of 'Jamboree of Far Horizons'. Also the 15th Asia-Pacific Scout Jamboree. Peak award is the 'Alpha Centauri Award'.

18

| AJ1998

| data-sort-value="Qld, Ipswich, Springfield" | Springfield, Ipswich, Queensland

| data-sort-value="1998-01-02" | 2 to 11 January 1998{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article267173783 |title=Fun of the jamboree |newspaper=Port Lincoln Times |location=South Australia |date=3 February 1998 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| 15,000

| Overseas contingents from 23 countries with 187 scouts. Participant cost about A$900 (in 2022, about A$1,700)

19

| AJ2001

| data-sort-value="NSW, Sydney, Cataract Park" | Cataract Scout Park, Sydney, New South Wales

| data-sort-value="2001-01-03" | 3 to 13 January 2001{{Cite web |date=1 March 2000 |title=Welcome to AJ2001 - The 19th Australian Jamboree, Sydney NSW January 3 - 13 2001 |url=http://jamboree.scouts.com.au/index.htm |access-date=19 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000301163600/http://jamboree.scouts.com.au/index.htm |archive-date=1 March 2000 }}

| 12,000{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article257164072 |title=Focus on Youth |newspaper=The Riverine Herald |location=Victoria, Australia |date=10 January 2001 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}

| Also 22nd Asia-Pacific Scout Jamboree. Participants had to hold their Pioneer badge.

20

| AJ2004

| data-sort-value="SA, Piccadilly" | Woodhouse, Piccadilly, South Australia

| data-sort-value="2004-01-05" |5 to 15 January 2004{{cite news |title=Scouts prepared for jamboree |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/scouts-prepared-for-jamboree-20040104-gdi3kg.html |access-date=18 January 2025 |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=4 January 2004}}

| 11,000

|

21

| AJ2007

| data-sort-value="Vic, Elmore" | Elmore, Victoria

| data-sort-value="2007-01-01" |1 to 13 January 2007{{cite news |title=Elmore farewells Australian Scout jamboree |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-01-15/elmore-farewells-australian-scout-jamboree/2172112 |access-date=18 January 2025 |work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=15 January 2007}}{{cite news |last1=ZIFFER |first1=Daniel |title=Scouts turn Elmore into worldly, tented city for Australian jamboree |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/scouts-turn-elmore-into-worldly-tented-city-for-australian-jamboree-20070103-ge3wu9.html |access-date=18 January 2025 |work=The Age |date=3 January 2007}}

| 12,000
(8,500 youth members, 3,500 adults[http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=174682 National Nine News, 3 January 2007] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070904114001/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=174682 |date=4 September 2007 }})

| Held on the Elmore Field Days site.{{cite web |title=Elmore Field Days |url=https://www.elmorefielddays.com.au/about/our-venue |website=Elmore Field Days |access-date=18 January 2025}} Theme of 'Get in the Game'. Overseas contingents from 30 countries with 300 scouts. As the first major Scout event in 2007, it was the first to celebrate 100 years of Scouting.

22

| AJ2010

| data-sort-value="NSW, Sydney, Cataract Park" | Cataract Scout Park, Sydney, New South Wales

| data-sort-value="2010-01-04" |4 to 14 January 2010{{cite web |title=Jamboree |url=https://www.12thcaulfield.asn.au/scouts-programme/jamboree/ |website=12th Caulfield (St. John's) Scout Group |publisher=Scouts Victoria |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=2019}}

| 12,000
(8,500 youth members, 3,500 adults)

| Theme of 'Test your limits'.

23

| AJ2013

| data-sort-value="Qld, Maryborough" | Maryborough, Queensland

| data-sort-value="2013-01-02" |2 to 12 January 2013{{cite web|url=http://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/news/2009/Scout%20Jamboree.shtml |title=Scout Jamboree set to almost double Maryborough population in 2013 |accessdate=28 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210192000/http://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/news/2009/Scout%20Jamboree.shtml |archivedate=10 February 2010 }}

| 11,000

| Theme of 'Dream it, live it'. Held at the Maryborough Showgrounds. Overseas contingents from fourteen countries with 250 scouts.

24

| AJ2016

| data-sort-value="NSW, Sydney, Cataract Park" | Cataract Scout Park, Sydney, New South Wales

| data-sort-value="2016-01-03" |3 to 13 January 2016{{Cite web |title=24th Australian Jamboree 2016 - World Scouting |url=https://sdgs.scout.org/post/24th-australian-jamboree-2016 |access-date=19 January 2025 |website=sdgs.scout.org |language=en}}

| –

| Theme of 'Leap into adventure'.

25

| AJ2019

| data-sort-value="SA, Murraylands" | The Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend, Murraylands, South Australia

| data-sort-value="2019-01-04" |4 to 13 January 2019{{cite web|url=http://www.sa.scouts.com.au/aj2019|title=Scouts Australia - SA Branch - AJ2019|publisher=}}

| 10,700
(8,500 youth members, 2,200 adults{{cite news |last1=DOUGLASS |first1=Robyn |title=More than 10,000 Scouts descend on the Bend Motorsport Park at Tailem Bend for 25th Australian Jamboree |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/more-than-10000-scouts-descend-on-the-bend-motorsport-park-at-tailem-bend-for-25th-australian-jamboree/news-story/b6411aa0c38635f761dd60dbac4fa741 |access-date=18 January 2025 |work=Adelaide Now |date=2 January 2019}})

| Theme of 'Friends for life'. The jamboree became the ninth-largest town in South Australia. Activities included motorsport, gliding, and 'Metro Mania' adventure into Port Adelaide or Glenelg.

–

| AJ2022

| data-sort-value="Vic, Elmore" | Elmore, Victoria

| data-sort-value="2022-01-03" |3 to 13 January 2022{{cite web |title=AJ2022 – 26th Australian Jamboree |url=https://scoutswa.com.au/aj2022/ |website=Scouts WA: AJ2022 |publisher=Scouts Western Australia |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=2021}}

| –

| Cancelled on 23 January 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=Event Notice {{!}} AJ2022 Cancellation|url=https://www.aj2022.com.au/notice|access-date=26 January 2021|website=AJ2022|language=en}} An alternative event, VicJam, was held for Victorian participants.

26

| AJ2025

| data-sort-value="Qld, Maryborough" | Maryborough, Queensland

| data-sort-value="2025-01-06" | 6 to 15 January 2025{{cite web|url=https://scoutsqld.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ActiveScoutingActiveCommunities-FINAL.pdf|title=Scouts Australia - QLD Branch - Active Scouting, Active Community|publisher=}}

| 9,200
(7,500 youth members, 1,700 adults{{cite news |last1=LORAM |first1=Lucy |title=Maryborough hosts nearly 10,000 Scouts and volunteers for Australia Jamboree |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-12/scouts-australian-jamboree-held-in-maryborough-2025/104804334 |access-date=17 January 2025 |work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=12 January 2025}})

| Themed as "Your quest, your way!". Maryborough Showgrounds. Overseas contingents numbered 500 participants. For the first time, venturer scouts who had not turned 17 by the start of the jamboree could be program participants.{{cite web |title=Who can attend. Venturer Scouts - Program participants |url=https://www.aj2025.com.au/who-can-attend |website=26th Australian Jamboree |publisher=Scouts Queensland |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=2025}}

27

| AJ2028

| Not known

| data-sort-value="2028-01-00" | 2028

| –

| Originally planned to be hosted by New South Wales in 2029.{{cite web |title=Australian Scouting Youth Event Standards |url=https://scouts.com.au/members/key-resources/ |website=Scouts Australia. Key resources |publisher=Scouts Australia |access-date=19 January 2025 |page=82 |format=PDF |date=March 2024}}

Other participants

Older members, mainly Venturers and Rovers, also attend the event as 'service leaders' to assist with activities and other tasks. Younger members, including Joey Scouts and Cub Scouts, and families and friends of Scouting are able to visit the site as day visitors, especially on Future Scout Day (Market Day), where games and stalls are set up by the jamboree's scouts.

Activities

Jamboree activities are a mixture of on-site and off-site activities that seek to challenge the participants, reinforce Scouting values, provide valuable and new experiences, and most of all, be great fun.

The programme of the 2nd Australian Jamboree (1938, north Sydney) saw contingents arrive (Thursday, 29 December 1938), 5000 scouts marching through Sydney (Friday), official opening and invitational campfires (Saturday), Scouts' Own services and campfire (Sunday), Cub Day (Monday), Fraternising Day with troop visitations between subcamps, Gilwell reunion, veterans' reunion (Tuesday), Overseas Day with displays, with a public campfire (Wednesday), Sea Scout Day with an afternoon display on the Lane Cove River (Thursday), Excursion Day for sight-seeing (Friday), Girl Guide Day and night displays (Saturday), Farewell Day with an optional Scouts' Own, finishing with a general campfire in the arena in the evening (Sunday), and the final day as Closing Day to break camp (Monday, 9 January 1939).{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18905283 |title=Programme for Australasian Scouts' Jamboree |newspaper=The Queenslander Illustrated Weekly |location=Queensland, Australia |date=15 June 1938 |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=40 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Activities for the AJ2019 (Tailem Bend, SA) included:

  • The Smash Zone – an activity in which nine scouts were given two minutes to smash three cars
  • Ice skating
  • A camp inside a camp at Woodhouse, the site of the 2004 Australian Jamboree. Activities such as pioneering, high ropes and low ropes, archery tag, orienteering, an arcade room and an obstacle course were included
  • BMX biking
  • Mud pits
  • Abseiling and rock climbing
  • Mountain biking
  • A day exploring in Adelaide
  • Land sailing
  • Shooting
  • Flying – like the 2007 Jamboree, AJ2019 had an airstrip on site
  • Skateboarding
  • Raft building, canoeing, swimming, rowing and sailing at Wellington Marina
  • Drone flying
  • Crate stacking.

=On site=

During a jamboree there could be more people on the jamboree site than there are in some regional towns. Considerable resources and infrastructure are set up at the jamboree sites to ensure the safety, well-being and enjoyment of all participants. Some of the jamboree resources include:

  • Main and secondary stage areas
  • Shopping mall
  • Socialisation areas
  • Medical centre and first aid posts
  • Internet café
  • On-site radio station, to which both Scouts and leaders contribute
  • On-site newspaper
  • Transport depot
  • Police and security
  • Temporary on-site fire station
  • Banking facilities including automatic cash point machines
  • Warehousing of food and consumables
  • Reliable communications infrastructure
  • Fresh water supply and grey water processing.

= AJ2007 activities =

Image:AJ 2007 entrance.jpg

==Activities==

The 21st Australian Jamboree in Elmore, Victoria, featured four off-site activities: Wet Wild and Windy, Riverforce, Bushwacked and Ready Set Bendigo.

On-site activities included Venture Extreme (learning about linking to Ventures), X-Site (circus-themed), Planet Blitz (focused on recycling and the environment), Rock Sports (rock climbing and abseiling) and Sky High (joy flights over the jamboree site, and at Rochester; the site having its own airstrip). Game On was another activity featuring six bases. It included sports, car smashing, mud and a giant water slide. Additional on-site activities included a carnival, circus skills, contingent HQ, subcamp activities and a mall.

Other activities included bush tracking and navigation, water activities (canoes, rafts and swimming at Lake Nagambie), exploring Historic Echuca, visiting Bendigo, and many mud activities.

An amateur radio station was also set up at the Jamboree by the Scout Radio and Electronics Service Unit (Victoria), utilising the special event call sign VK3JAM. A notable achievement of the station was a live link to the International Space Station when Scouts had to opportunity to talk with astronaut Sunita Williams in orbit of the earth.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

==Entertainment==

AJ2007 featured much entertainment, with music acts such as Evermore, The Rogue Traders, Björn Again, Tripod and Taxiride performing on the main arena; along with numerous cover bands. Stunt planes and Motocross riders brought other nights alive; along with a Marquee called "The Place" which had themed discos.

==Cleanup==

Clean up of the site involved removing 200 tonnes of rubbish, dismantling 16,000 square metres of marquee, and removing 208 portable buildings on site, including toilets. It was expected to take a fortnight using 50 volunteers.{{cite news |url=http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/big-cleanup-under-way/512256.aspx | title= Big clean-up under way | publisher= bendigo.yourguide.com.au Rural Press Ltd | date=15 January 2007 | accessdate=24 January 2007}} The Scouts had already taken down their own tents and troop facilities.

= AJ2025 activities =

The Maryborough event featured a number of all-day off-site activities:{{Cite web |title=7.4 Offsite Activities - AJ2025 Participant Handbook - Global Site |url=https://wiki.aj2025.com.au/display/APH/7.4+Offsite+Activities |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=wiki.aj2025.com.au}} Your sights (day trip to Maryborough), Your seaside (day trip to Hervey Bay beach), and Your attraction (Australia Zoo visit).

On-site activities, mostly half-day periods, included:{{Cite web |title=7.5 Onsite Activities - AJ2025 Participant Handbook - Global Site |url=https://wiki.aj2025.com.au/display/APH/7.5+Onsite+Activities |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=wiki.aj2025.com.au}}

  • Your action: Air blower soccer, archery, archery tag, beach games, hatchet throwing, laser tag, motorised cooler racing, and pioneering;
  • Your adventure: Archery tag, trail cycling, geocaching, laser tag, orienteering, and a survival challenge;
  • Your choice: Amateur radio, scout badge swapping, code quest, drones, escape rooms, garden games, heritage, laser cutting and etching, woggles and leatherwork, pyrography, woggles and woodworking;
  • Your discovery: 3D printing, aqueduct challenges, exploration museum, Lego Masters, soldering, robot discovery, Scrabble, and rocket bottles; and

The arena ('Your entertainment') had different evening events:{{Cite web |title=7.6 Your Entertainment - AJ2025 Participant Handbook - Global Site |url=https://wiki.aj2025.com.au/display/APH/7.6+Your+Entertainment |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=wiki.aj2025.com.au}}

class="wikitable"

! Date

! Main arena

! Mini arena

Monday 6 January 2025

| Opening Ceremony, special guest Amy Shark

| –

Tuesday 7 January 2025

| Comedy Night, with Mel Buttle, Dave Hughes, and MC Terry Hansen

| Open mic and karaoke night

Wednesday 8 January 2025

| AJ's country hoe down, with The Smashing Bumpkins

| AJ's biggest board game

Thursday 9 January 2025

| Guest performance (Budjerah)

| 'AJ's Got Talent' heats

Friday 10 January 2025

| Rock Night, with Kiss Tribute – Cancelled due to storms

| Comedy night – Cancelled

Saturday 11 January 2025

| Disney-themed wide game

| 'AJ's Got Talent' heats

Sunday 12 January 2025

| International Night, and trivia

| Chess championships

Monday 13 January 2025

| Rave Night, with Havana Brown

| 'AJ's Got Talent' heats

Tuesday 14 January 2025

| 'AJ's Got Talent' finals

| Trivia

Wednesday 15 January

| Closing ceremony, with Natasha Rose and Sheppard

| –

Notes

{{reflist|group=note}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.yican.com.au/1935/ The first Australian Jamboree]
  • [http://www.scouts.com.au Scouts Australia website], with information on the next jamborees
  • [http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/result?l-title=1189&q=&sortby=dateAsc Victorian Jamborees' daily newspapers] (digitised on Trove)

{{Scouting in Australia}}

Category:Scouting jamborees

Jamboree, Australian Scout