By Garry Bates
In 1818, Governor Macquarie gazettes 26 January as a public holiday for New South Wales to celebrate the foundation of the colony in NSW. He called it Anniversary Day. The First Nations people called it Invasion Day.
In 1915, 30th July was designated as Australia Day to commemorate the fallen soldiers of the Great War.
26th January was firstly made Australian Natives Association (ANA) Day in the 1920s. The ANA was a society of white (mainly British) males who were born in Australia. The ANA strongly supported the White Australia Policy and no one else was allowed to join. 26th January was selected as the day the First Fleet ships began to enter Sydney Harbour to begin the invasion. It was felt that the First Nations people would not and could not celebrate on that day. It was designed to be that divisive.
In March, 1930, the ANA annual conference resolved to name the day ‘Australia Day’ and persuades all states to rename the day by 1935. By 1935, all the States had adopted ‘Australia Day’ on 26 January but not all had a public holiday on the date. On 26th January 1938, a ‘Day of Mourning’ was called by Aborigines Progressive Association (APA) and Australian Aborigines League (AAL), including an appeal for new laws for the education and care of First Nations people, and a new policy that would lead to equality in Australia. This was ignored by the Government and the ridiculed by the ANA. The ANA was a large and powerful organisation at that time.
In 1994, ‘Australia Day’ was officially declared, with all Australian states and territories officially marking 26 January as a national public holiday.
Some Australians think it was when Captain Cook “discovered” Australia but, according to the Endeavour’s Ship’s log, that happened in April, 1770. Others think it was when Captain Phillip raised the Union Jack and claimed Australia for Britain however, according to the First Fleet Ship’s and Doctor’s Logs, that did not happen until 7th or 8th February, 1788.
The only reason for 26th January being Australia Day would appear to be the vindictiveness of the Australian Natives Association and their support of the White Australia Policy. The so-called history of the date is distorted to hide the racism behind its adoption.
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And all these long years, I was under the impression it commemorated the rum rebellion of 1808.
The actual chronology of the first fleet arrival determined why 26 January was chosen as the day we now call Australia Day and recognizes the foundation of the new colony at Port Jackson :
January 18, 1788: Governor Arthur Phillip arrived at Botany Bay on HMS Supply :
January 20, 1788: The remainder of the fleet arrived at Botany Bay
January 25, 1788: The fleet attempted to leave Botany Bay, but only HMS Supply made it out
January 26, 1788: The fleet arrived at Port Jackson, where Phillip and officers went ashore and raised the flag.
The date is simply a historical artifact and has nothing to do with inherent racism – who made that up ?
Botany Bay, whilst chosen by Joseph Banks on the first voyage turned out to be a poor mooring for eleven ships with inadequate access to fresh water thus they moved to Port Jackson.
There was no invasion in the ordinary sense of that term but there was a progressive settlement of the land and dispossession of the original/first settlers.
It has never been suggested that ‘Captain Cook discovered’ Australia. His mission was to chart the East Coast of Terra Australis and at that time in 1770 he was a Lieutenant. Lieutenant James Cook was promoted to the rank of “commander” shortly after returning from his first voyage of exploration, and later received a further promotion to “post-captain” upon completion of his second voyage.
It has never been suggested that ‘Captain Cook discovered’ Australia.
And yet, when I was at school, that was what we were taught. You have strange definition of “never”, Terrence.
National days should provide some sense of pride, a reason to celebrate.
26 January is divisive and anyone who thinks about what we are celebrating has no sense of pride in the day.
The date has an ugly history and indigenous people have no reason to celebrate the hoisting of the union jack in Sydney.
It’s well past its use by date, and we should choose another day.
I always think 1 January (the date Australia became a single nation) is reasonable, and unobjectionable.
AC, I strongly oppose Jan 1.
One of the reasons for federation was so the founding fathers could codify a white Australia. And indeed, the first act of the new parliament was the Immigration Restriction Act (popularly known as as ‘The White Australia Policy’).
Australia is drenched with multicultural societies and we are better for it (my opinion). Why would they want to celebrate the anniversary of a time when they weren’t welcome here?
The same with the First Australians. Why too, would they want to celebrate the anniversary of the day were excluded as Australians?
I wrote this brilliant, outstanding, ground-breaking, magnificent article some years ago about this subject;
https://theaimn.com/january-1-exclusion-and-the-white-australia-policy/
If we had a date for the end of the White Australia Policy that would be a good alternative, although it might be a bit hard to choose one single definitive date, as the process of dismantling it was progressive and not really finished until Whitlam’s goverment (almost inevitably) removed the last vestiges.
Thank you Michael, for such an interesting article.
So I’ll have to admit to being wrong (which is highly unusual), and figure out a new date to start supporting.
Thank you, AC. But I wouldn’t say you’re wrong as Jan 1 makes perfect sense as Australia was born on that date.
I’ve simply thrown in a technicality, and whilst it’s important to me, it’s probably meaningless for the large majority of Australia Day celebrants.
I think the date has to be one that can be pretty well universally accepted and celebrated
So 1 January doesn’t meet that objective.
So another date is required.
Ideally, AC, it could be the day we become a republic. Or is that too far in the future?
Suggestion for a better date to commemorate Australia…. 27 May.
On 27 May 1967 White Australians finally recognised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as people in a referendum with 90.77% voting YES.
Good idea, Bert. Love it.
I can live with that one, Bert.
How about this one ?
[ https://johnmenadue.com/when-it-comes-to-australia-day-wattle-stop-the-arguments/ ]
Only Jan. 1 is sensible, “legal”, and nobody wants it, so buggeration and have NONE. I want no particular flag, song, day, superstition, policy or fashion, so.., pick your date. (trim your nails carefully)