Post by ● kaneisdaman ● on Jan 26, 2008 0:38:31 GMT -5
Well not that it would be of too much relevance to many people here but today, January 26 is Australia Day.
Australia Day, celebrated annually on 26th January, is the official national day of Australia, commemorating the establishment of the first European settlement on the continent of Australia. The date is that of the foundation of a British penal colony at Sydney Cove on Port Jackson, New South Wales, by Captain Arthur Phillip, who was to become the first Governor. Australia Day is an official public holiday in all states and territories of Australia, and has also been known as Anniversary Day or Foundation Day.
www.australiaday.gov.au/pages/page3.asp
Some history....
On May 13, 1787, a fleet of 11 ships captained by Arthur Phillip, which came to be know as the First Fleet, was sent by the British Admiralty from England to Australia, to established a penal colony at Botany Bay on the coast of New South Wales, explored by Captain James Cook in 1770. The settlement was seen as necessitated by the loss of colonies in North America. Captain Phillip found Botany Bay unsuitable and with two ships proceeded up the coast to Port Jackson, which he declared "the finest harbour in the world". The site decided upon for the first settlement was at a location where there was a potable stream of water, and some level land, unlike much of the steep and rugged foreshore. By 26 January 1788, the fleet was at anchor in Sydney Cove, the male convicts were unshipped and the flag was raised in the name of King George III.
On 26 January 1808, the day was celebrated as "First Landing" or "Foundation Day", the colony having survived for twenty years, despite the initial hardships, deprivation and starvation suffered by the First Fleet settlers. The celebrations began at sundown on the 25th January, and lasted into the night, the chief toast of the occasion being Major George Johnston, who had had the honour of being the first officer ashore from the First Fleet, having been carried from the landing boat on the back of convict James Ruse, the colony's first successful farmer. On the following day, 26th January 1808, George Johnston, despite suffering the ill-effects of a fall from his gig on the way home to Annadale, was at the head of the officers of the New South Wales Corps to arrest Governor Bligh in the Rum Rebellion.
In 1818, the 30th anniversary, Governor Macquarie had a 30-gun salute at Dawes Point and gave government workers a holiday - a tradition that was soon followed by banks and other public offices.
In 1888 all colonial capitals (with the exception of Adelaide) celebrated 'Anniversary Day' and by 1935 all states of Australia were celebrating 26 January as Australia Day (although it was still known as Anniversary Day in New South Wales).
The 1938 sesquicentenary (150th anniversary) of British settlement in Australia was widely celebrated. Preparations began in 1936 with the formation of a Celebrations Council. In that year, New South Wales was the only state to abandon the traditional long weekend and the annual Anniversary Day public holiday was held on the actual anniversary day - Wednesday 26 January.
In 1946 the Commonwealth and State governments agreed to unify the celebrations on 26 January as 'Australia Day', although the public holiday was instead taken on the Monday closest to 26 January.
Since 1994 all states and territories have celebrated Australia Day on 26 January. If Australia Day occurs on a weekend, however, a public holiday is observed on the nearest Monday.
Australia Day, celebrated annually on 26th January, is the official national day of Australia, commemorating the establishment of the first European settlement on the continent of Australia. The date is that of the foundation of a British penal colony at Sydney Cove on Port Jackson, New South Wales, by Captain Arthur Phillip, who was to become the first Governor. Australia Day is an official public holiday in all states and territories of Australia, and has also been known as Anniversary Day or Foundation Day.
www.australiaday.gov.au/pages/page3.asp
Some history....
On May 13, 1787, a fleet of 11 ships captained by Arthur Phillip, which came to be know as the First Fleet, was sent by the British Admiralty from England to Australia, to established a penal colony at Botany Bay on the coast of New South Wales, explored by Captain James Cook in 1770. The settlement was seen as necessitated by the loss of colonies in North America. Captain Phillip found Botany Bay unsuitable and with two ships proceeded up the coast to Port Jackson, which he declared "the finest harbour in the world". The site decided upon for the first settlement was at a location where there was a potable stream of water, and some level land, unlike much of the steep and rugged foreshore. By 26 January 1788, the fleet was at anchor in Sydney Cove, the male convicts were unshipped and the flag was raised in the name of King George III.
On 26 January 1808, the day was celebrated as "First Landing" or "Foundation Day", the colony having survived for twenty years, despite the initial hardships, deprivation and starvation suffered by the First Fleet settlers. The celebrations began at sundown on the 25th January, and lasted into the night, the chief toast of the occasion being Major George Johnston, who had had the honour of being the first officer ashore from the First Fleet, having been carried from the landing boat on the back of convict James Ruse, the colony's first successful farmer. On the following day, 26th January 1808, George Johnston, despite suffering the ill-effects of a fall from his gig on the way home to Annadale, was at the head of the officers of the New South Wales Corps to arrest Governor Bligh in the Rum Rebellion.
In 1818, the 30th anniversary, Governor Macquarie had a 30-gun salute at Dawes Point and gave government workers a holiday - a tradition that was soon followed by banks and other public offices.
In 1888 all colonial capitals (with the exception of Adelaide) celebrated 'Anniversary Day' and by 1935 all states of Australia were celebrating 26 January as Australia Day (although it was still known as Anniversary Day in New South Wales).
The 1938 sesquicentenary (150th anniversary) of British settlement in Australia was widely celebrated. Preparations began in 1936 with the formation of a Celebrations Council. In that year, New South Wales was the only state to abandon the traditional long weekend and the annual Anniversary Day public holiday was held on the actual anniversary day - Wednesday 26 January.
In 1946 the Commonwealth and State governments agreed to unify the celebrations on 26 January as 'Australia Day', although the public holiday was instead taken on the Monday closest to 26 January.
Since 1994 all states and territories have celebrated Australia Day on 26 January. If Australia Day occurs on a weekend, however, a public holiday is observed on the nearest Monday.
