The event comes ahead of the annual G’day UK event, designed to promote all things Australian.

South Australian and UK celebrities, students, artists and sponsors have painted the kangaroos, including Elle Macpherson, staff at Coopers and Adelaide body painter Emma Hack.

Tourists and Londoners will be encouraged to seek out the kangaroos at landmark locations, then visit the South Australian website to enter to win a trip for four to Kangaroo Island.

Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith said the unique promotion would create awareness and encourage Britons to consider a holiday in South Australia.

“The promotion is all about direct consumer engagement to raise awareness of Kangaroo Island and South Australia as a desirable holiday destination,” she said.

The UK is the largest single source of visitors to South Australia, accounting for 22 per cent of the market, and spending $86 million in SA in 2008.

Once the promotion is finished, most of the kangaroos will be auctioned for charity.

Money from the auction will benefit Gill Hick’s Making a Difference for Peace organisation.

Ms Hicks, from Adelaide, was the last person pulled out alive from the London 7/7 bombings.