Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. It marks the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet at Port Jackson, New South Wales, in 1788, which led to the establishment of the first European colony in Australia.

Table of Contents

1. When is Australia Day?
2. The History of Australia Day?
3. What Do People Do on This Day?
4. More about Captain Arthur Phillip

When is Australia Day?

Australia Day is celebrated annually on January 26. The following is the list of Australia Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Australia Day? 

On January 26, 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip led the First Fleet, a group of 11 British ships carrying convicts and marines, into Sydney Cove (now Sydney, Australia).

Arthur Phillip raised the British flag at Sydney Cove, claiming the land for King George III. This marked the beginning of British colonization in Australia. The event is seen as the foundation of modern Australia, but for Indigenous Australians, it was the beginning of land dispossession and cultural disruption.

The first recorded celebration of January 26 was in 1808, known as "Foundation Day" in New South Wales.

In 1818, Governor Lachlan Macquarie declared it an official public holiday in NSW, marking the 30th anniversary of the colony. By the 1830s, January 26 was commonly referred to as "Anniversary Day" in NSW, marking the colony's foundation. Other Australian colonies had their own founding dates and did not initially celebrate January 26.

On January 1, 1901, the six British colonies united to form the Commonwealth of Australia. Some believed January 1 should be Australia's national day, but January 26 continued to be significant.

By 1935, all Australian states and territories had adopted "Australia Day" as the official name. The holiday, however, was still celebrated only in New South Wales as a full public holiday.

1938 marked the 150th anniversary of the First Fleet's arrival. While official celebrations took place, Indigenous Australians protested the day as a "Day of Mourning".

After World War II, Australia Day became more widely observed, but it was still not a uniform national public holiday. In 1946, the Australian National Day Committee was formed to promote a unified national celebration.

From 1946 to 1993, Australia Day was celebrated on the Monday closest to January 26 to create a long weekend. In 1994, January 26 was declared a national public holiday across all states and territories, solidifying Australia Day as a major annual event.

What Do People Do on This Day?

Australia Day is celebrated across the country with official ceremonies and public events.

Australian of the Year Awards is held to recognize outstanding Australians in various fields, announced on January 25 in Canberra. Thousands of new Australians take the citizenship oath at special events.

Major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth host large-scale fireworks displays. Many Australians celebrate by having backyard barbecues and pool parties with friends and family.

Many sport events happen on this day such as Tennis and Cricket Matches. Families and friends also play informal cricket games.

For many Indigenous Australians, Australia Day is a reminder of colonization and dispossession. January 26 represents the beginning of colonization, not a day of celebration.

More about Captain Arthur Phillip

Captain Arthur Phillip was a British naval officer and the first Governor of New South Wales. He is best known for leading the First Fleet to Australia in 1788 and establishing the first European colony at Sydney Cove, laying the foundation for modern Australia.

He was born on October 11, 1738, in London, England, and joined the Royal Navy in 1755 at age 17.

In 1786, Phillip was chosen to lead the First Fleet and establish a British penal colony in Australia. The fleet consisted of 11 ships, carrying over 1,400 people (convicts, marines, and settlers).

They departed from Portsmouth, England, on May 13, 1787. After 8 months and 24,000 km, they arrived in Botany Bay on January 18, 1788. Finding Botany Bay unsuitable with poor soil and no fresh water, Phillip moved the colony to Sydney Cove on January 26, 1788.

As the first Governor of New South Wales, Phillip faced major challenges such as managing food shortages, dealing with rebellious convicts, exploring new land, and relations with Indigenous Australians.

He returned to England in 1792 due to ill health, and died on August 31, 1814, in Bath, England.