Australia Day


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Australia Day

a public holiday in Australia, commemorating the landing of the British in 1788: observed on the first Monday after January 26

Australia Day

January 26
The anniversary of the first British settlement in Australia on January 26, 1788, was formerly known as Foundation Day or Anniversary Day . Captain Arthur Phillip and his company of British convicts arrived first at Botany Bay, and when that proved to be an unsuitable location they moved on to Port Jackson, where the city of Sydney was eventually established. They built a penal colony there to help relieve overcrowding in the British prisons.
First officially celebrated in Sydney in 1818, Australia Day has been a public holiday since 1838. It used to be observed on either January 26 or the nearest Monday, but since 1994 it has been observed on January 26 with celebrations all over the country.
CONTACTS:
National Australia Day Council
Old Parliament House
King George Terr.
Parkes, ACT 2600 Australia
61-2-6120-0600; fax: 61-2-6273-6277
www.australiaday.gov.au
SOURCES:
AnnivHol-2000, p. 14
DictDays-1988, p. 7
IntlThFolk-1979, p. 11
NatlHolWrld-1968, p. 16
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