Australia Day

This is the official national day of Australia. It marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet at Port Jackson in New South Wales, and the raising of the British flag at Sydney Cove by Arthur Phillip. It took a while from the first official celebration in 1808 to 1994 when the date was consistently marked by a public holiday on that day by all states and territories. It has had it controversies as some people see it as the day that the British invaded the land held by Aborigines and the start of their colonisation, and protests are held as a result. The day is referred to by them as Invasion Day, Survival Day or Day of Mourning, and they want the date to be changed or the holiday abolished.

There are set ceremonies held every Australia Day. On the night before there is a presentation of the Australian of the Year Awards, as well as the announcement of the Australia Day Honours list and addresses from the Governor-General and the Prime Minister. There is an a WugulOra Morning Ceremony held which acknowledges the shared history and traditional custodians of the land of the aborigines. There is a flag raising and citizenship ceremony held that gives people Australian citizenship, and then a Salute to America which includes a stirring 21-gun “Salute”. Sydney harbour has a day of events including the Australia Day Regatta where hundreds of boats gather in the water. This is finished by a concert and then a massive fireworks finale. There are other events held all over the country, including the Perth Skyworks Fireworks.