17/01/2024
JANUARY 26TH, AUSTRALIA DAY.
Here are the facts:
CAPTAIN COOK AND THE FIRST FLEET
Captain Cook landed in Sydney on the 28th of April, 1770, not the 26 th January, so “no invasion day “and claimed the east coast of the Australian continent for Britain, naming it New South Wales.
The first boat of the First Fleet landed at Botany Bay on 18 January, 1788, again not the 26th January, however the Fleet then later moved to Port Jackson (what became Sydney).
THE NAMING OF AUSTRALIA
January 1st 1900, again not 26th January, was not the day that Australia was named. It was the day that the Commonwealth of Australia was formed by the federation of six British colonies: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania1
The name Australia was derived from the Latin word australis, meaning “southern”, and was used to refer to the hypothetical landmass in the south pole, known as Terra Australis.
The name Australia was first suggested by the English explorer Matthew Flinders in 1804, who circumnavigated the continent and drew a map of it. He preferred the name Australia over New Holland, which was the name given by the Dutch in the 17th century.
The name Australia was officially adopted by the British Admiralty in 1824, and was used in British legislation in 1828. The name Commonwealth of Australia was formalised in the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900, which was passed by the UK Parliament.
January 1st, 1901 was the day that the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 came into effect.
Aboriginals never had a name for their country. There were several hundred separate tribes, most of which had their own language. The only names were the Aboriginal names for their various regions, roughly defined as their “hunting grounds” which were vigorously defended from invasion by neighboring tribes.
JANUARY 26th
The relevance of January 26th is when the National and Citizenship Act 1948 was proclaimed. This was the first day we all became Australians. Before that, all citizens, including Aboriginals born after 1921 were called "British Subjects."
Prior to this time, the various British colonies in Australia all had their own “Australia Day”, which was celebrated on a range of dates – see image.
The excuses for calling Australia Day (26th January) “Invasion Day”, based on the supposition that the date was either Captain Cook’s first landing, or the arrival of the First Fleet, are simply WRONG!
CONCLUSION
“The 26th of January is a great day for all of us. It is the day that Australians received their citizenship. The day which celebrates the implementation of the Nationality and Citizenship act of 1948, when we all became Australians in our own right. An Act giving freedom and protection to all Australians, old and new, the right to live under the protection of Australian Law, and government funding as a united nation.
Now, this annual date for a national celebration each year on January 26th is important. So, let’s just celebrate the day for what it is, the fact that we are Australians in our own right.”
