News Service from House Harris

Fed: Obama fever hits Australia

SYDNEY, Jan 20 AAP - Americans living in Australia and local fans of Barack Obama will mark the inauguration of the new US president in their own special way.

Obama will be sworn in on Tuesday in Washington, with events to celebrate the historic moment planned across most of the week in Australia.

The occasion will be marked with everything from Obama burgers and nightclubs parties to dignified breakfasts.

Inauguration breakfasts will be held at the US embassy in Canberra and at consulates in Melbourne and Perth on Wednesday, for dignitaries and invited guests.

In Sydney, a reception will be held for about 200 invited guests at the home of the consul-general on Friday.

The Melbourne branch of Democrats Abroad Australia will hold a Bye Bye Bush ball at the Bell's Hotel on Friday.

Political organisation Democrats Abroad Australia is also planning celebrations for both Melbourne and Sydney.

An inauguration ball will be held at Slide nightclub in Sydney on Wednesday, where 100 guests will watch a rebroadcast of Mr Obama's swearing-in and inaugural address.

Organiser Carmelan Polce said the event had sold out and the doors would be opened to those who hadn't managed to get tickets after the official proceedings ended.

"I think a lot of people will get up in the wee hours and watch it," she said.

"But it's something you will want to hear again and again.

"I think you will be able to hear a pin drop during the speech."

She said there was an air of excitement and hope surrounding Mr Obama's swearing in, which transcended party lines.

"It's going to be a really big moment," she said.

"I think people are so excited.

"I don't know what I'm going to feel."

The Bye Bye Bush Ball will start with a mock sad theme to farewell President George W Bush with downbeat songs, but will pick up later in the night.

Traditional American party foods such as hot dogs and mini hamburgers will be served.

The United States Study Centre at the University of Sydney, along with the American Australian Association and the US consulate, is holding a business breakfast on Wednesday.

The breakfast will include a screening of the speech and an analysis by the centre's chief executive Geoffrey Garrett, with a question and answer session.

The breakfast will be followed by a public event at the university's Manning Bar at 12pm (AEDT), where the speech and parade will be rebroadcast.

Obama burgers will be served for lunch and people can have their photo taken with a life-size cutout of the new president.