State of Australian Cities conference 2005 ran for two and a half days. All sessions were chaired by members of the selection committees for each conference theme. These selection committee members also selected rapporteurs for the plenary sessions. A final plenary on the last day brought together themes and allowed an opportunity to develop a research agenda.
Combined with the conference were two social gatherings. The cocktail evening hosted at the conference venue on the 30th November was well attended by delegates. The success of State of Australian Cities conference 2005 was celebrated at the conference dinner, which was held at Rydges Southbank on the night of 1st December.
Melissa Forbes, a Brisbane jazz and soul singer, performs at the conference dinner at Rydges, South Bank.