3 things to know about Australia Day before you complain
DO YOU even know why it's held on January 26?
Central & North Burnett
Don't miss out on the headlines from Central & North Burnett. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE idea of changing Australia Day has been an ongoing debate, but even some the country's politicians don't understand why we celebrate January 26.
In recent times, certain local councils have tried to change the date of their citizenship ceremonies out of respect for our indigenous people, but have been criticised by the government, with Byron Shire Council recently told they were to be stripped of their right to hold the ceremonies.
Last week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison raised the call for another day to recognise indigenous Australians.
There's been a lot of distress about the idea of changing Australia Day but the date hasn't always been so set in stone.
The naming of Australia Day took almost 150 years and it was not always held on January 26.
Here's a brief history:
1. January 26 isn't when Captain Cook landed
In 1770 Captain Cook declared Australia terra nullius - nobody's land.
So, Australia Day marks the arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney Cove on January 26, 1788, which was commanded by Captain Arthur Phillip.
On this day they raised the Union Jack in Sydney Cove. It was the official declaration of British sovereignty on the land that would become Australia.
Captain Cook had been dead for nine years at that point.
2. The tradition of the national holiday is a recent one
Initially, it was only New South Wales that celebrated the day. In 1838, 50 years after the First Fleet arrived, Foundation Day was declared Australia's first public holiday in New South Wales.
In 1888, representatives from Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and New Zealand joined NSW leaders in Sydney to celebrate the Centenary. What had begun as a NSW anniversary was becoming an Australian one.
But the January 26 public holiday was only declared in 1994.
3. It wasn't always called Australia Day
Australia Day was called "Foundation Day" or "Landing Day" in the early part of the nineteenth century, and was typically marked by sporting events including horse racing and boat races.
It was not until the 1940s did all the Australian states and territories use that name to mark that date.
Originally published as 3 things to know about Australia Day before you complain
Why most Queenslanders don’t want ‘cheap’ Games
Many Queenslanders have resoundingly rejected Premier Steven Miles’ no frills option for an Olympic Games stadium, instead backing the more ambitious proposals which could also lure major artists like Taylor Swift to Queensland. SPECIAL REPORT
Free lunches don’t mean much when people are dying on Qld roads
While Labor is spruiking free bolognese pasta, burgers and chow mein for our schoolchildren, people are dying on roads built more than 30 years ago which are painfully inadequate to deal with the traffic volumes of 2024, writes Mark Furler
Fentiman’s homework-gate claims over LNP’s kindy plan
Shannon Fentiman says the LNP’s free hearing, vision and speech tests for kindy kids is another example of David Crisafulli “not having one new idea”.
37-year-old man dies in crash, woman flown to hospital
A 37-year-old man has died following a two-vehicle South Burnett crash , while a 48-year-old woman was rescued from the wreckage and flown to hospital.
Where 60 per cent of voters prefer Steven Miles and Labor
An exclusive Courier-Mail poll reveals Queensland is divided, with Premier Steven Miles holding an overwhelming majority in one part of the state while David Crisafulli dominates in the regions.
Who won week three? Watch most BRUTAL Voter Verdict yet
The Courier-Mail’s Voter Verdict have weighed in on the third week of the election campaign with a brutal assessment of both leaders. But who won the week?