Australia day in australia in 2021 office holidays. As uncomfortable as it is, we need to reckon with our history. Not until 1994 did they begin to celebrate australia day consistently as a public holiday on that date. Theres been a lot of anger about the idea of changing australia day but the date hasnt always been so set in stone. However, the naming of australia day took almost 150 years and it was not always held on january 26. A brief history of australias national day and the growing campaign to change the date. Australia day wasnt always celebrated on january 26. On australia day 1988, australia s bicentennial year, tens of thousands of indigenous and nonindigenous australians marched in protest. Ken wyatt says australia day should stay on 26 january australia. Coincidentally, i was born in january 1946 the same year and month the commonwealth and state governments agreed to unify the celebrations on january 26 as australia day. Many aboriginal australians do not like the idea of a day to celebrate the british lands landing. It also confirmed that the monday closest to the date be a public holiday.
The many different dates weve celebrated australia day australia day, or differentlytitled holidays celebrating the aussie identity, have been celebrated on a range of dates throughout our history. January 26 is a day to remember australias history the experiences of our indigenous people and of the immigrants who chose australia as their home and to celebrate what it means to be an australian in all its diversity. In present day australia, celebrations reflect the diverse society and landscape of the nation and are. Ken wyatt says australia day should stay on 26 january.
Historian frank bongiorno discusses why australia day survives despite revealing our nations rifts and wounds. Weve put together a list of primary and secondary reading australia books perfect for. One of the most notorious denials in political history came on this day when president bill clinton held a news conference on his relations with monica lewinsky. The arrival of the british signified british sovereignty over australia s eastern seaboard. A modern and united australia must shift its national day. Celebrating australia day on 26 january like dancing on graves, says reconciliation body. List of massacres of indigenous australians wikipedia. The states and territories agreed to celebrate australia day in 1988 on 26 january, rather than with a long weekend. The 26th of january will always be a day of mourning. In 1818, january 26 became an official holiday, marking the 30th anniversary of british settlement in australia. Australia day in sydney sydney, australia official.
Research in 2009 indicated that australians reflect on history and future fairly equally on. On january 26, 1788, arthur phillip, who had sailed into what is now sydney cove with a shipload of convicts, hoisted the british flag at the site. Celebrate australia day the day we all became australians. Debate over the date and nature of australia day continues as the national australia day council seeks to meet the challenge of making 26 january a day all australians can accept and enjoy. Jan 26, 2017 australian history is full of great moments, which could serve as alternative dates for australia day, including april 7, when the most australian movie ever made the castle was released. Its a day for all australians, no matter where our personal stories began, to reflect on being australian.
Australia day must be preserved as history intended. Why 26 january is the most controversial date on the australian. University of melbourne professor kate dariansmith tracked the evolution of the day in a piece. Only from 1994 did australian states and territories begin to celebrate australia day consistently as a public holiday on 26 january.
In 2015 australia day coincided with 150th anniversary of colacs botanic gardens. Australia day on january 25 26 a noble compromise between old and new noel pearson jan 27, 2018 cape york institute, constitutional recognition, media articles the observance of australia day could commence on january 25 the eve of the proclamation of british sovereignty over the east coast of the continent and continue into. On new years day 1901, the british colonies of australia formed a federation, marking the birth of modern australia. Every year when january 26 comes around, pollys heart is heavy, and seeing the rest of the country celebrate the day makes her both sad and angry. Weve put together a list of primary and secondary reading australia books.
Governor arthur philip raised the flag of great britain that day at port jackson. Since publishing his critically acclaimed, walkley awardwinning, bestselling memoir talking to my country in early 2016, stan grant has been crossing the country, talking to huge crowds everywhere about how racism is at the heart of our history and the australian. Deputy nationals leader bridget mckenzie illustrated this point when she argued for australia day to stay on january 26. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers.
As the cold war deepens and the new political threats loom for project blue book, dr. Australia day book list part 1 picture books as our national holiday, australia day is a day to reflect on our culture, landscape, identity and community. Prior to that it was held on the monday closest, because australians love a long weekend. While theres been a lot of angry debate around changing the date, australia day wasnt uniformly celebrated on january 26 for decades. Allen hynek aidan gillen and captain michael quinn michael malarkey must delve further down the ufo. Today is the day australia celebrates whats great about australia. Percentage who could accurately name the historical. If australia day must be january 26, let us lament before rejoicing. In the wake of federation, the australian natives association ana began campaigning in earnest for a national day for all of australia. A nation celebrates australia day, january 26, 1988. A protester waves a flag during an invasion day rally on australia day in melbourne on january 26, 2018. Jan 21, 2020 10 things you should know about january 26.
Australia s national day is australia day, which is celebrated on january 26 th each year. Australia day wasnt consistently celebrated on the 26th of january as a public holiday in all states and territories until 1994, even though the name australia day dates back to the early 1900s. An invasion day march in redfern on january 26, 2018. Topic abc news australian broadcasting corporation.
On australia day, sydney hosts a program of events built on the values that define australians. Eight alternative days to celebrate australia day that are not january 26. Apr 17, 2011 australia s national day is held on 26th january in recognition of the arrival in 1788 of the first fleet, a group of 11 ships that sailed from england to establish a colony in australia. January 26 marks the official national day of australia, but for aboriginal and torres strait islanders the day is anything but celebratory.
It took until the 1940s for australia to get its national holiday in place and it. Percentage of surveyed australians who believe australia day has always been held on 26 january. It wasnt until 1935 that all states adopted a common date and name for australia day to be held on january 26. On that day in 1788, 11 convict ships from great britain landed at port jackson in new south wales, where governor arthur phillip raised the british flag. Observed on 26 january every year, australia day officially marks the anniversary of the arrival of the first fleet of convict ships from britain in 1788 and the raising of the union jack. Jan 25, 2017 the rights and freedoms we now take for granted trace their origins to events that occurred on january 26, 1788. One hundred years later, on 26 january 1938, a date by then called australia day, a group of 100 mostly aboriginal and torres strait islander peoples, led by the aborigines progressive association. Today i will share a long, but by no means comprehensive, list of books that, for me, reflect the diversity, challenges and strengths of our australian culture. I ts a controversial date in australia, but for many down under, australia day, which falls on january 26 every year, is the perfect excuse for a few beers and a barbecue marking the day in. The tradition of having australia day as a national holiday on 26 january is a recent one. Why australia day is really held on 26 january and the push to. This is why we must celebrate australia day on january 26. Jan 26, 2016 celebrate australia day with these great activities.
On january 26, 1979, the dukes of hazzard, a television comedy about two goodoldboy cousins in the rural south and their soupedup 1969 dodge charger known as. I felt it only fitting on this, australia day i read an australian iconic book and decided a bit of irreverent history wouldnt go astray. Australia day, holiday january 26 honouring the establishment of the first permanent european settlement on the continent of australia. If australia day must be january 26, let us lament before. Some gamilaroi people describe the events of january 26, 1838, as their peoples darkest day. Jan 25, 2014 australias national day is celebrated on january 26.
As the head mathematics teacher at cherrybrook technology high school in sydneys northwest, eddie woo is arguably australia s most famous maths teacher. Photo images to preserve the spirit of australia day 1988 on sydney harbor. On that day in 1788, 11 convict ships from great britain landed at port jackson in new south wales, where governor arthur phillip raised the british flag to signal the beginning of the british colony. January 26 commemorates the arrival of the first fleet in sydney cove but the first of the 11 ships actually arrived at botany bay more than a week before, on january 18, 1788. This date was one that commemorated the landing of the first fleet and settlement of new south wales, and was originally known as first landing day or foundation day. The many different dates weve celebrated australia day. If you have not seen take a look at the book the biggest estate on earth by. The fact the grim anniversary now falls on australia day only compounds their pain. The history of australia day dash author solutions. The conversation surrounding changing the date of australia day from january 26 has become steadily more mainstream in the last few years.
In contemporary australia we see racism manifest when nonindigenous australians fail to know australian history in its entirety. I grew up in the forties and fifties when australia day was just a pup. Another problem with holding our national day on january 26 is that it is a day that positions european settlement as the primary source of national identity and pride. The bondi pavilion protest concert foreshadowed the survival day concerts from 1992. The monday nearest to january 26 became the australia day holiday after years of petitioning for a national long weekend. The polling conducted by research now reveals that only 10% of australians think the date of australia day should be changed. On january 26, 1788, captain arthur phillip guides a fleet of 11 british ships carrying convicts to the colony of new south wales, effectively founding australia. A new south wales mounted police detachment, despatched by acting lieutenant governor of new south wales colonel kenneth snodgrass, attacked an encampment of kamilaroi people at a place called waterloo creek in remote bushland. In the past few years, largescale invasion day rallies. Sign up now to learn about this day in history straight from your inbox.
The australian citizenship test resource book explains the day as. Majority of australians support australia day on 26 january. After all, the debate isnt over australia day itself. The day marks the anniversary of the arrival of the first fleet of british ships in new south wales at port jackson in 1788. Crippled kaiser had grip of iron german emperor kaiser bill, was born on this day, strongwilled and determined to overcome the deformity that afflicted him from birth. Other states didnt observe the day because it was significant only to new south wales. Start your day at the wugulora morning ceremony at barangaroo, which honours the worlds oldest living culture. Sydney continued to be the centre of australia day spectacle and ceremony. Australia day is the official national day of australia. The latter name celebrates the fact that the aboriginal peoples and. Actually, the australia day public holiday has only been held on 26 january since 1994. Not until 1935 did all the australian states and territories use that name to mark that date. In western australia, fremantle councils proposal to hold an. The figure of 75% who think australia day should be celebrated on 26 january represents an increase from the 70% result from the same question asked last year.
Jan 25, 2017 alongside the celebration, australia day also has a long history of commemoration and contestation, and this year is no different. As the australia day website explains australia day, 26 january, is the anniversary of the arrival of the first fleet of 11 convict ships from great britain, and the raising of the union jack at sydney cove by its commander captain arthur phillip, in 1788. Australia day sydney 2020 fireworks, events and more sydneys aussie pride comes alive on 26 january 2020 for australia day. About the book as uncomfortable as it is, we need to reckon with our history. Given our history, if thats what indigenous people really want, it seems a small token of kindness to find a better day. Australia day is marked on 26 january every year with a national public holiday. Cnn this used to be the greatest country on earth, but weve lost the plot.
This is why we celebrate australia day on the 26th of january. January 26 is a day to remember australia s history the experiences of our indigenous people and of the immigrants who chose australia as their home and to celebrate what it means to be an australian in all its diversity. Why australia day is really held on 26 january and the. In doing so, it ignores more than 60,000 years of precolonial history and 230 years of. The cullinan diamond, discovered in south africa on january 26, 1905 1907 1st us federal corrupt election practices law passed 1907 john millington synges playboy of western world opens in dublin.
A history of australia day the tradition of having australia day as a national holiday on 26 january is a recent one. Australia day, held on january 26, is the biggest day of celebration in the country and is observed as a public holiday in all states and territories. One hundred years later, on 26 january 1938, a date by then called australia day, a group of 100 mostly aboriginal and torres strait islander peoples, led by the aborigines progressive association, met at australian hall in sydney for a day of mourning protest and passed a resolution calling for equal rights. The unauthorised history of australia david hunt on.
Less than 40% of australians know what actually happened. Aborigines have dubbed the 26 january as invasion day or survival day. Why australia day is really held on 26 january and the push. The first fleet, consisting of 11 ships and led by captain arthur philip from great britain, arrived at port jackson on january 26, 1788. Captain arthur phillip, the first governor of new south wales, raised the union jack flag at sydney cove in. It is abundantly clear that everyday australians want to celebrate our great country on 26 january, said dr bella dabrera, director of the foundations of western civilisation program with the free market tank the institute of public affairs.
That is when the course of our nation changed forever. Celebrated annually on 26 january, it marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the first fleet of british ships at port jackson, new south wales, and the raising of the flag of great britain at sydney cove by governor arthur phillip. No word could better capture the essence of australia. Australia day is a national public holiday on the 26th of january, the anniversary of the arrival of the first fleet in australia. It marks the arrival of the first fleet of british ships at port jackson, new south wales on that date in 1788, and the raising of the flag of great britain by captain arthur phillip. The marking of 26 january is an important date in australia s history and has changed over time. It has its beginnings in the anniversary of the arrival of the first fleet of 11 convict ships from great britain, originally called landing day or foundation day. Jul 27, 2019 first australian penal colony established. The unauthorised history of australia and millions of other books are available for instant access. The victorian branch proposed to have 26 january celebrated throughout australia as australia day on a monday, making a long weekend. Why january 26 is not the problem we should use this date to promote a complete understanding of the nations history, jacinta nampijinpa price writes. On australia day, the people of australia we come together as a nation to celebrate whats great about our sunburnt country, and why we love being australian. As the history books indicate, january 26 festivities were initiated to mark the arrival of the first british colonists and the establishment of a british colony on the east coast of australia. An animated history of australia, from european discovery to the first fleet landing on 26th of january in 1788.
Aboriginal australians arrived on the australian mainland by sea from maritime southeast asia between 40,000 and 70,000 years ago. The arguments for and against australia day on january 26. Not until 1935 did all the australian states and territories use the name australia day to mark 26 january. The marking of 26 january is an important date in australias history and has changed over time. The waterloo creek massacre, also known as the australia day massacre.
Many are horrified at the idea of moving australia day but the truth is, it hasnt always been celebrated on january 26. In contemporary australia we see racism manifest when non indigenous australians fail to know australian history in its entirety. Meanwhile, more than threequarters 77% of those surveyed were under the misapprehension that australia day had always been on january 26 the date was first adopted by the states in 1935 and. It honours the date on which the constitution of india came into effect on 26 january 1950 replacing the government of india act 1935 as the governing document of india and thus, turning the nation into a newly formed republic. The history of australia is the history of the area and people of the commonwealth of australia, including its preceding indigenous and colonial societies. Although it was not known as australia day until over a century later, records of celebrations on 26 january date back to 1808, with the first official celebration of the formation of new south wales held in 1818. This is as much australias history as the landing of the first fleet, and both should. A nation celebrates australia day, january 26, 1988 on. Celebrate australia s diverse society and landscape with these lesson plans and activity ideas. Australia day a public holiday on january 26th and is australia s national day.