Australia Day is held on 26 January to mark the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 and the raising of the British flag at Sydney Cove, which began British colonisation of the continent.

Quick Scoop

What is Australia Day?

  • Australia Day is the official national day of Australia, observed every year on 26 January.
  • It commemorates the landing of Captain Arthur Phillip and the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788 and the establishment of the first permanent European settlement.
  • Over time, it has become a public holiday with events such as citizenship ceremonies, community awards, and large public celebrations.

The historical reason

  • On 26 January 1788, the British flag (the Union Jack) was raised at Sydney Cove, symbolising the start of British rule over what is now Australia.
  • This date later evolved into a day to celebrate “Foundation Day” or the beginning of the colony that grew into modern Australia.
  • It only became a unified national public holiday across all states and territories in 1994, even though 26 January had been marked in various ways for many decades.

Why it’s controversial

  • For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, 26 January represents invasion, dispossession, and the violent impact of colonisation, rather than a day of celebration.
  • Because of this, you’ll often hear the same date called “Invasion Day”, “Survival Day”, or a “Day of Mourning”, highlighting grief, resilience, and ongoing struggles for justice and recognition.
  • Public debate has grown, especially in the 2010s and 2020s, about whether the date should be changed, how history should be acknowledged, and how to respect First Nations perspectives while still marking a national day.

How people mark it today

  • Many people still use the day for barbecues, beach trips, fireworks, and community festivals, treating it as a midsummer holiday and a celebration of national identity.
  • Governments and councils often run citizenship ceremonies and Australian of the Year–style awards to recognise contributions to society.
  • At the same time, large rallies, protests, and alternative events (such as Invasion Day or Survival Day gatherings) draw attention to Indigenous rights and historical truth-telling.

In many forum and social media discussions, you’ll see a split: some users frame 26 January as a day of pride and barbecues, while others emphasise it as a painful reminder of colonisation and argue for a new date or a complete rethink of how the day is observed.

Latest debate and trending context

  • In recent years, several organisations, local councils, and businesses have shifted away from promoting celebrations on 26 January, sometimes moving events or giving staff the option to work that day and take another day off instead.
  • Online, each January brings renewed debate about “change the date”, Indigenous recognition, and how Australia can reconcile celebration with honest reflection on its colonial past.

TL;DR: The reason for Australia Day is to mark the 1788 British arrival and founding of the colony at Sydney Cove, but for many First Nations people it is also a day of mourning and protest, which is why the date and its meaning are now heavily contested.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.