It was decided in England, that because of the overcrowding in their jails and the fact that America had reached independence and forced them to abandon the practice of sending convicts to America, that the best place to send them was New South Wales. Surely that would solve the problem, send them to the other side of the world, well out of harms way. Hence, the first fleet, headed by Govenor Phillip, landed in Sydney, on 26th January, 1788.
The landing of the first fleet was the beginning of a new era for this ancient continent. With the arrival of the white man, came the alteration forever of the traditional Aboriginal lifestyle, and the beginning of a new era for this formidable and very ancient land.
The first 'official' celebration of Australia Day, was not held until 1818...and was marked with a 30 gun salute, followed by a ball, held by the then Governor Macquarie and his wife, at Government House.
At this stage of Australia's development, the day was called 'Foundation Day'.
Even as early as 1821, Australian enthusiasm and patriotism was emerging, from the children of the first convicts...our first free, Australian born, citizens. This was noted by the editor of the then major newspaper, The Monitor, as he published the following extract:-
"The circumstances of the parents of the most of them, having come to the country in bondage, so far from making them humble, causes them to be the proudest people in the world...the circumstance of being free is felt by them with a strength bordering on fierce enthusiasm".
Up until 1820, the country was still known as 'New South Wales', however Govenor Macquarie recommended the renaming to 'Australia', which further increased the wave of patriotism from the ex convicts and their children.
On 26th January 1838, the first major public celebration was held for the 'people' to participate in. Until that time, all celebrations were held in the way of a private nature, by the 'well to do' and the 'elite'.
The day was celebrated on the foreshores of Sydney Harbour, with firecrackers, rockets and a regatta of sailing ships and other vessels. It was also the beginning of the first 'public holidays' and the people embraced it enthusiastically.
The tradition of a regatta on Sydney Harbour is still held today, to celebrate Australia Day.
By the 1850s Australia experienced it's very first gold rush, bringing uneven wealth to the nation...the poor were in such a disadvantaged position, that it was necessary for the NSW government, in 1886, to issue 'Centenial Parcels' of food rations to the poor on 26th January.
By this time the stirrings of patriotism were leaning towards Federation, however, consisting of mainly British extract, the loyalty to England remained firmly in place, and is still felt today, in some quarters.
Between 1871 and 1914, an organization called 'Australian Natives Association' had been formed, and it was this group, that influenced the wave of Nationalism that was to ultimately lead to Federation on 1st January, 1901. Included in this group were our 1st Prime Minister,
Edmund Barton, our 2nd Prime Minister, Alfred Deakin and our very first Governor General after Federation, Sir Isaac Isaacs.
These days, Australians celebrate 'their day' in many different ways, parades in the streets of towns and cities, picnics, multi cultural demonstrations of all kinds take place, to celebrate our diversity of population and cultures. Reinactment of the first fleet's landing is a regular happening in Sydney.
But all in all, Australians are pretty 'laid back' as far as Australia Day goes, many simply find it a wonderful opportunity to go to the beach, relax or enjoy their favourite sport. But don't let our casual attidude fool you, most of us are fiercely proud and patriotic towards this country, we simply don't put it on parade as some countries do....LOL
OUR COLOURFUL AND TURBULENT PAST
Please Note* Birdie doesn't profess to be a student of history
and these history pages of our special events are simply my interpretation of events that happened.
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