Jonah’s Celebrates 97 Years with Star-Studded Australia Day Gathering

Australia’s Most Enduring Dining Room Welcomes the Nation’s Icons: Jonah’s Celebrates 97 Years with Star-Studded Australia Day Gathering

On Australia Day, one of the country’s most iconic hospitality institutions marked a milestone rarely achieved and did so in unmistakable Jonah’s style. Perched above the Whale Beach escarpment since 1929, Jonah’s celebrated its 97th birthday with an intimate, invitation-only Australia Day event attended by some of Australia’s most recognisable cultural figures, alongside long-standing friends of the house. More than a party, the annual gathering has become a quietly prestigious tradition — a place where Australian excellence, influence and history converge. Guests this year included music icon Marcia Hines, musical theatre actress Ashleigh Rebunach, respected journalist Mike Munro, famed jockey Jim Cassidy, the most successful Australian Rugby Union Captain John Eales, 10 Olympians and former Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove.

Sir Peter Cosgrove delivered an inspiring toast to Australia, offering reflections on this special nation we live in and what it means to be Australian. He spoke of the reputation of Australian WWI soldiers as “gladiators with the eyes of children” and how “ever since, Australians aboard have carried that cache that they come from the greatest nation on earth”. He spoke of the way we all come together, the way we support each other, referencing his attendance at the National Memorial Service of the MH17 Australian passengers where Katie Noonan performed her revised version of I Am Australian to include the words “You are not alone, we are with you, we are Australian”. This to him “tells you more about being this nation than pages and pages of press ink, minutes and minutes of talk back, anything on social media.” It sums up what it means to be Australian – “You are not alone we are with you, we are Australian”.

Since opening its doors in 1929, when Jonah’s stood as one of the very first buildings on the Whale Beach headland, the restaurant has quietly witnessed the evolution of modern Australia. Long before the suburb emerged around it, Jonah’s was already welcoming artists, leaders and celebrities drawn to its rare combination of discretion, elegance and extraordinary coastal beauty.

Across decades, Jonah’s has hosted countless notable figures, both Australian and international, becoming a backdrop to private celebrations, cultural moments and historic conversations. While fashions, menus and eras have changed, the essence of Jonah’s has not — refined service, exceptional dining and one of the most breathtaking views in the country.

“Reaching 97 years is not simply about longevity,” said Niels Sluiman, Jonah’s General Manager. “It’s about remaining relevant, respected and loved across generations. Australia Day gives us the opportunity to celebrate the people — many of them cultural icons — who have helped shape Jonah’s story, just as Jonah’s has been part of Australia’s.”

As guests raised glasses overlooking the ocean, the event felt less like an anniversary and more like a living chapter in Australian cultural history. With its centenary now firmly on the horizon, Jonah’s continues to stand as a symbol of enduring Australian luxury, timeless, influential and unmistakably iconic.