HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY
Australia Day. Celebrate what's great.
Australia Day, January 26, is the biggest day of celebration in the country and is observed as a public holiday in all states and territories.
On Australia Day we come together as a nation celebrate what's great about Australia and being Australian. It's the day to reflect on what we have achieved and what we can be proud of in our great nation.
A Day for the People
Australia Day today is a community day. With formal ceremonies around the country - flag raising, citizenship ceremonies and the presentation of community awards - combined with local events and fun activities, the day belongs to the people.
Celebrations actively encourage participation of all Australians regardless of age, ethnicity and culture. Increasing numbers of communities are also making efforts to recognise the meaning of the day for indigenous Australians with events such as indigenous flag-raising and welcome to country ceremonies.
While the historical aspects of the day will always be acknowledged, there is now a greater awareness of the need to celebrate contemporary Australia with our diversity, remarkable achievements and bright future.
First celebrations
On January 26, 1788 Captain Arthur Phillip took formal possession of the colony of New South Wales and became its first Governor.
The fledging colony soon began to celebrate the anniversary of this date. Manning Clarke notes that in 1808 the "anniversary of the foundation of the colony" was observed in the traditional manner with "drinking and merriment".
The first official celebrations were held in 1818 to mark the 30th anniversary of white settlement. Governor Macquarie officiated at a thirty-gun salute during the day and a dinner ball at Government House that evening.
Australia Day History:
1788 Captain Arthur Phillip unfurls the British flag at Sydney Cove and proclaims British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia.
1808 First recorded celebrations on 26 January.
1818 Governor Macquarie holds the first official celebrations on 26 January, marking 30 years of white settlement.
1836 First 'Anniversary Regatta' held on Sydney Harbour. Now called the Australia Day Regatta, it is the oldest continuous regatta in the world.
1838 Fiftieth anniversary of Captain Phillip's landing and commencement of traditional 'Australia Day' public holiday in NSW.
1888 Centenary celebrations for Anniversary Day.
1901 Federation of the Commonwealth of Australia.
1931 'Australia Day' adopted in Victoria.
1932 'Australia Day' adopted in NSW, only to be reversed to 'Anniversary Day' by the incoming state government.
1935 Commonwealth Government and all States and Territories, except NSW, adopt 'Australia Day' as the official title for our national day.
1938 150th anniversary celebrations across the nation.
1946 All States and Territories celebrate January 26 as 'Australia Day'.
1960 Sir Macfarlane Burnet named the first Australian of the Year.
1968 Lionel Rose becomes the first Aboriginal Australian of the Year.
1979 National Australia Day Council formed, incorporated in 1990.
1988 Bi-centennial celebrations and for the first time a united public holiday on January 26 across the nation.
1992 Inaugural Survival Concert held at La Perouse, now an annual event.
1994 All States and Territories begin to celebrate Australia Day on the actual day - January 26 - for the first time.
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