Surf boats which represented each of the past 18 host cities were on the Yarra River as were flags of the participating countries. A W-class Melbourne tram with wings attached was lowered into the stadium. A performance followed based on a poem by Michael Leunig, involving a boy with a duck which was an artificial one at first, and koalas, (people dressed in koala 'suits').
The boats that symbolized each of the previous host cities were placed on the Yarra River, alongside flags from participating countries. A specially modified tram with wings was lowered into the stadium. The event then featured a performance based on Michael Leunig's poem, highlighting a boy accompanied by an artificial duck and people dressed in koala costumes.