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A night of gilded revelries may sound like a typical Wednesday night for Sydney’s upper echelon. But on May 1, that description will become fully realised with the return of the fabled Gold Dinner—a fundraising gala revered as “Australia’s signature charity event”. Orchestrated by the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, the premiere soiree will gather the country’s glitzy, glamorous and (most importantly) generous to raise millions in philanthropic contributions towards the harbour city’s dedicated paediatric hospitals in Randwick and Westmead.
In its 27th iteration—with the event only growing in prestige and magnitude each year—the Gold Dinner will ambitiously aim to deliver over $75 million in charitable contributions towards facility development and connecting research, making it the highest target ever set since the dinner’s conception in 1997. Last year, the foundation set an Australian record by raising $19.2 million over the course of the evening, placing the exclusive affair on par with the Met Gala as an internationally renowned fundraising event.
Like New York’s fashion-forward ball, the Gold Dinner shares in its portion of style savants and industry titans in attendance, too. Previous editions of the event have seen the Hemsworths mingle with a Packer, Hollywood exports (and I Give It A Year co-stars) Simon Baker and Rose Byrne reunite and fashion veterans including Camilla Freeman-Topper and Rebecca Valance cross paths.
Famed chef Nobu Matsuhisa, of the eponymous luxurious Japanese restaurant, has even created bespoke menus complete with included yellowtail sashimi and braised wagyu short rib for past events. (Though, unlike the Met Gala, images from inside the event actually do make it your social media feed).
Roman high jewellery maison Bulgari has also pledged support to the foundation for its third consecutive year. Andrew McLaren, managing director at Bulgari Australia, tells GRAZIA in a press release that the luxuirate is “committed to helping children and our partnership with the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation underscores our enduring dedication to creating a positive impact”.
“We look forward to being part of the Gold Dinner for a third consecutive year supporting the remarkable efforts of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation to provide all children with access to the best possible healthcare,” McLaren added.
From the money donated, SCHF’s CEO The Hon. Kristina Keneally attests the donations will mark a “historic moment” for paediatric care in New South Wales. “Philanthropy will help ensure these buildings are amazing places for sick kids, their families, and the clinicians who care for them, with new single patient rooms, family spaces, and connecting research directly to clinical care,” she noted. A new dog park will also be built from the funds, ensuring ill children can be visited by a family pet while in treatment.
Previous venues have included a gold-themed marquee situated on the tarmac of Sydney Airport and Town Hall, so it’s apparent another iconic haunt will soon be washed in the namesake metallic hue. They say not all that glitters is not gold, but when the exclusive guest list arrives on the red carpet dripping in sequin gowns, this agade will well and truly be proved incorrect.
