Australia Day
in Young People, Senior Citizens / 50+, Education, Children & Family Friendly
Overview
Date: 26/01/2011
Time: 12:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Nation Wide
Contact Information
Website: http://www.australiaday.org.au/experience
email: australiaday@dpc.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 02 6120 0600
Description
Australia Day (previously known as Anniversary Day, Foundation Day and ANA Day), and also referred to as Invasion Day by several groups within Australian society, is the official national day of Australia. Celebrated annually on 26 January, the day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788, the hoisting of the British flag there, and the proclamation of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia.
Australia Day is an official public holiday in every state and territory of Australia, and is marked by the Order of Australia and Australian of the Year awards, along with an address from the Prime Minister.
Although it was not known as Australia Day until over a century later, records of celebrations on 26 January date back to 1808, with Governor Lachlan Macquarie having held the first official celebration of the formation of New South Wales in 1818. In 2004, an estimated 7.5 million people attended Australia Day celebrations and functions across the country.
Australia Day is seen as controversial by some Australians. There have been significant protests from and on behalf of the Indigenous Australian community. Many Australians see Australia Day as a celebration of the destruction of Indigenous culture by British colonialism. Since 1988, "Invasion Day" protests have been held supporting this view. In light of these concerns, proposals to change the date of Australia Day to other dates have been made. As the date also marks the anniversary of the so-called Rum Rebellion in 1808, Australia Day may be viewed as a commemoration of the only military coup in Australian history. This last view parallels a sort of Independence Day.
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