What To Do On Australia Day

In the early nineteenth century some of the more successful early settlers and freed convicts began referring to the anniversary of the flag-raising as "First Landing Day" and marking it with an anniversary dinner.

In 1818, Governor Lachlan Macquarie made the thirtieth anniversary of the day a public holiday, thirty guns counting out the years of British civilization, a tradition Macquarie's successors continued.

In 1826 at the centre of the anniversary dinner, 'Australia' a new word for the continent which had been suggested by explorer Matthew Flinders, entered the list of toasts. The term, which was proposed by Macquarie to a reluctant British government in 1817, was taken up in Australia, especially by emancipists.

So strongly did some emancipists feel about being Australian that the anniversary dinner in 1837 was for only the Australian-born. That year the celebration widened with the first Sydney Regatta, the beginning of a new tradition - one which still continues today. Five kinds of races, including one for whale boats, drew crowds to the shore of Sydney Harbour.

At the Jubilee in 1838, a group of four friends, aboard a steamer called "Australia" they had hired to take a group of their friends out for the day, raised the NSW Ensign to a roaring reception from the onlookers. The press of the day would predict that this symbol would become the 'the emblem of an independent and a powerful empire' within fifty years. Though not quite in the way the paper imagined, the flag would become an important Australian symbol by the end of the nineteenth century

Information sourced from the official government Australia Day website.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

In almost every neighbourhood in every corner of the nation, January 26 kicks off with a community breakfast. This will typically be held in an open air space and the common theme will be barbecued sausages on a sandwich or bread roll washed down with tea or coffee.

Image credit: kevin_p on Morguefile

Whatever you may have been told, meat pies are not the traditional Australia Day fare. Australia Day is for barbecuing. OK, yes, you can find a barbecue going any other day of the year as well. But Australia Day probably sees more barbecues fired up, collectively, than any other day of the year. It is the day to gather at a mate's place with some beers and watch the cricket. Although there has been a bit of a push recently to convince us all that on Australia Day we should be barbecuing lamb, there is nothing innately traditional about this particular meat. You can grill anything you like. The important thing is the coming together of friends.


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For many indigenous Australians January 26 is far from a day of celebration. Many view it as a day of mourning as it marks the day of invasion by white settlers. Known variously as Sovereignty Day, Survival Day and Invasion Day among aboriginal communities, January 26 is when the Yabun Festival is held. It is renowned as one of the most important Indigenous music events in the country, showcasing a wide wealth of creative talent and boasting a dynamic program that brings together live entertainment, art and craft, dance, politics, literature, information stalls and activities for kids.

For more information on Yabun 2010 visit The Gadigal Information Service

Canberra, ACT
Sydney, NSW
The Rocks, Sydney, NSW
New South Wales
The Australian Open, Melbourne, VIC
Victoria
Queensland
Western Australia
South Australia
Tasmania
Northern Territory

I Love Australia by tshirtshirts

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AAMI Ferrython image - Creative Commons - TimeOutSydney