What does Australia Day commemorate?

Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Celebrated annually on 26 January, it marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales and the raising of the Flag of Great Britain at Sydney Cove by Governor Arthur Phillip. read more

On Australia Day we celebrate all the things we love about Australia: land, sense of fair go, lifestyle, democracy, the freedoms we enjoy but particularly our people. Australia Day is about acknowledging and celebrating the contribution that every Australian makes to our contemporary and dynamic nation. read more

Australia Day mistakenly celebrates the arrival of the First Fleet, the first colonists, at Sydney in 1788 and the establishment of the colony of N.S.W.. I say mistakenly because that is NOT the formation of Australia but rather the start of general colonisation of New Holland and the Pacific. read more