WHAT: Tourism Australia kicked off a week of to the inspiring conversations, immersive experiences, brilliant music and food offerings at SXSW in Austin on March 12, 2023, with a spectacular opening reception event at AUSTRALIA HOUSE @SXSW. They also presented two panels at the festival on Monday, March 13, 2023.
Guests at the opening reception enjoyed a specially curated menu from acclaimed chef Nornie Bero, fusing Indigenous Australian ingredients with fresh Texan-sourced produce. Cocktails by Starward Australian Whisky were also on-hand as well as Australian beer and wine.
Later in the evening, Yolŋu surf rock band King Stingray performed a short acoustic set, featuring their cover of the Men at Work hit, Down Under—the official song of Tourism Australia’s 2022 global brand campaign, Come and Say G’day.
The following day Tourism Australia hosted two panel discussions. The first, Enticing Travel Through Song, Art & The Written Word, included marketing and creative heavy hitters Susan Coghill (CMO, Tourism Australia), Cam Blackley (Chief Creative Officer, M&C Saatchi) and Millie Millgate (Executive Producer, Sounds Australia). Panelists shared how they’ve harnessed and showcased creative talent to evolve understanding of Australia on a global stage – moderated by Colin Daniels, senior digital editor at Adweek.
Afterwards, some of Australia’s most recognized Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices led conversation in Connecting to Country – The Power of Song, Food & Movement. Panelists Patty Mills, King Stingray and Nornie Bero discussed how food, art and movement have preserved and powered cultural identity—moderated by award-winning, Dallas-based author Alex Temblador.
Presented by the American Australian Association (AAA), AUSTRALIA HOUSE @ SXSW is a multi-day activation includes multiple opportunities to engage in panel discussions as well as unique food, wine, and tourism experiences. Now in its fourth year, AUSTRALIA HOUSE @ SXSW will run from March 12th to March 17th, 2023.
WHO: Patty Mills (NBA Brooklyn Nets All-Star and Olympian), Nornie Bero (Acclaimed Indigenous chef and owner of Mabu Mabu), King
Stingray (Musicians), Susan Coghill (Chief Marketing Officer, Tourism Australia), Cam Blackley (Chief Creative Officer, M&C Saatchi) and Millie Millgate (Executive Producer, Sounds Australia), Colin Daniels (Senior Digital Editor, Adweek) and Alex Temblador (Author and Travel Journalist)
WHEN: March 12 – 13, 2023
WHERE: Lucielle Patio Lounge, 77 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701