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.[1][2] 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.[3][4][5] 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.[6]
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).[7] The January 1923 Scout corroboree in Melbourne saw a NSW contingent of 920 scouts.[8] The 'all-Australian Scout Corroboree' of January 1924 in Adelaide expected about 1500 scouts,[9] 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.[10] Activities included tent pitching, fire lighting, billy boiling, trek card obstacle race, and cyclist stretcher races.
From 15 January 1927, the Lake Sorrell reservoir, 40 miles (64 km) from Hobart, Tasmania was the site of an all-Australian 'jamboree' with about 300 Scouts.[11][12] 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.[13] 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,[14] 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.[15][16][17]
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]
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,[18] however this decision was reversed. The next Australian jamboree will be held in January 2028.[19]
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]
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.[20] 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 Cheelii lagoon), and two service leader subcamps were Wook-Koo (nearby First Nations park) and Mungomery (vine forest).[21] An additional subcamp informally named K'Gari (island) hosted members of the Jamboree Executive Committee.[citation needed]
Attended by Deputy World Chief Scout, Lord Hampton. Five sub-camps. Overseas contingents were from England, Scotland, France, South Africa, India, Ceylon, and Nauru.[26] Some newspapers of the time called it a world jamboree,[27] but it was not recognised as such. It was estimated to have had 120,000 visitors.[27] Site is now part of West Lindfield suburb.
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.[28][29] To go before the national council in Hobart in October 1939,[30] it was unforeseen that Australia would be at war on 3 September 1939.
Also billed as the Pan-Pacific Jamboree.[31] Attended by the World Chief Scout, Lord Rowallan. Overseas contingents from at least twenty countries,[31] 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.[32] Girl Guides also assisted, mostly in the hospital.[32] Held on the 1,000 acres (400 ha) property 'Yarra Brae', of Hon. Lewis Clifford.[33] Subcamps were numbered.
Site was on loaned Blue Metal Quarries Limited land.[36] Overseas contingents from at least fifteen countries.[35] Campsite streets were named after explorers, such as 'Burke and Wills Trail'.[35]
Held on the 1,000 acres (400 ha) property 'Yarra Brae', of Hon. Lewis Clifford.[37] Featured a 'Boomerang Arch' gateway.[38] Considered the wettest Australian jamboree and nicknamed the 'Mudboree'.[39]
Sixteen overseas contingents. Public open day on Sunday, 1 January 1961. Cub Day on Tuesday, 3 January 1961 saw 8,000 wolf cubs attend.[42] World Chief Scout Sir Charles Maclean to attend.[41] Senior Scouts would venture with Paddy Pallin, through the Blue Mountains.[41] Seven sub-camps over 40 acres (16 ha) site.[40]
Jamboree award of 'Southern Cross Award' for scouts, and 'Capricornian Award' for senior scouts.[44] Activities included Skillorama, Challenge Valley, Gang Show, New Year's Day concert.[44] Held on site of old police paddocks, 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Dandenong, covering 700 acres (280 ha).[43] Overseas contingents from at least seven countries,[43] as well as Girl Guides. Eight sub-camps.[43] World Chief Scout Sir Charles Maclean officially closed the jamboree.[43]
Theme of 'The dawn of friendship'.[46] Well-forested area even after 14,000 tent poles cut.[45] Jamboree award of 'Southern Cross Award' for scouts, and 'Capricornian Award' for senior scouts.[47][45] Overseas contingents from at least eighteen countries.[47] 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.[48] The site today is around Bilga Street, Middle Park suburb, near Jamboree Heights (GPS 27°33′10″S152°55′40″E / 27.552858°S 152.927858°E / -27.552858; 152.927858).[49]
Celebrating the Captain Cook Bicentennial.[52][50] Overseas contingents from at least seven countries.[51] 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.[50]
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.[53] The peak award is the 'Jamboree Pentathlon Award'.[54]
Due to a total fire ban, the A$800 opening ceremony fireworks display was cancelled,[39] but held for the closing ceremony.[55] The event newspaper was called the 'Rossmoyne Rag'.
Fourth Asia-Pacific Scout Jamboree (and first held in Australia).[57] The first jamboree in Western Australia, and the 150th year of the founding of the State.[56]
With the 75th anniversary of Scouting in Australia, there was a pre-stamped envelope, showing B.-P., and a c. 1918 youth membership certificate.[59] Peak award was the 'Diamond Award', including participation in an obstacle course, go-kart racing, and a Brisbane discovery trip.[58]
Theme of 'Adventure' with activities including 'Challenge Valley' and 'Bicycle bungle'.[62] The site was also used for the 16th World Scout Jamboree from 30 December 1987 to 10 January 1988.
Theme of 'Welcome stranger, farewell friend'.[64] Overseas contingents from thirty countries, including three scouts and a leader in the first Russian overseas contingent in more than seventy years.[65] Held at Victoria Park cricket pitches.[66]
Held on the Elmore Field Days site.[75] Theme of 'Get in the Game'. Overseas contingents from 30 countries with 300 scouts.[73] As the first major Scout event in 2007, it was the first to celebrate 100 years of Scouting.
Theme of 'Friends for life'. The jamboree became the ninth-largest town in South Australia.[80] Activities included motorsport, gliding, and 'Metro Mania' adventure into Port Adelaide or Glenelg.
Themed as "Your quest, your way!". Maryborough Showgrounds.[84] Overseas contingents numbered 500 participants.[84] For the first time, venturer scouts who had not turned 17 by the start of the jamboree could be program participants.[85]
27
AJ2028
Not known
2028
–
Originally planned to be hosted by New South Wales in 2029.[86]
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).[87]
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
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
Entrance to AJ2007 on open day - 7 January 2007
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]
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.[88] 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:[89] Your sights (day trip to Maryborough), Your seaside (day trip to Hervey Bay beach), and Your attraction (Australia Zoo visit).
^For 12th Australian Jamboree, not able to determine if youth numbers include or are separate to overseas scout numbers.
References
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^ abc"Jamboree: Camp at Frankston". Crookwell Gazette. Vol. LI, no. 8. New South Wales, Australia. 16 January 1935. p. 2. Retrieved 18 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Scout jamboree". Daily Mail (Brisbane). No. 7063. Queensland, Australia. 16 October 1924. p. 14. Retrieved 18 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Scout Jamboree". News. Vol. XII, no. 1, 820. South Australia. 16 May 1929. p. 18 (Home edition). Retrieved 18 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Scout jamboree in New Zealand". The Australasian. Vol. CXX, no. 4, 023. Victoria, Australia. 6 February 1926. p. 72 (Metropolitan edition). Retrieved 18 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
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^"All Australian Corroboree". Manilla Express. Vol. XXIX, no. 14. New South Wales, Australia. 18 February 1927. p. 4. Retrieved 18 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Scouts march out". The West Australian. Vol. 55, no. 16, 389. Western Australia. 10 January 1939. p. 10. Retrieved 18 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Boy scouts gather: Visit of jamboree organiser". The Pastoral Times. Vol. LXXIX, no. 4754. New South Wales, Australia. 4 November 1938. p. 3. Retrieved 18 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
^ ab"Jamboree ends". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. No. 19, 421. New South Wales, Australia. 9 January 1939. p. 9. Retrieved 18 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Jamboree for Launceston". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. XCVIII, no. 94. Tasmania, Australia. 1 July 1939. p. 6 (Latest news edition and Daily). Retrieved 18 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
^"World Scout Jamboree". The West Australian. Vol. 55, no. 16, 534. Western Australia. 30 June 1939. p. 20. Retrieved 18 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
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^"Jamboree Fever Spreads". The South-East Kingston Leader. Vol. 24, no. 1104. South Australia. 12 September 1984. p. 8. Retrieved 18 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
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