Australia Day (previously known as Anniversary Day, Foundation Day, and ANA Day) is the official National Day of Australia which is celebrate annually on Jan 26.
Jan 26 commemorates the arrival of the 'First Fleet'at Sydney Cove,New South Wales in 1788 and the proclamation of British Soverignity over the eastern seaboard of Australia(then known as New Holland)at that time.
Records of celebration of Australia Day dates back to 1808 with the official celebration of the New South Wales held in 1818.Foundation Day, as it was known at the time, continued to be officially celebrated in New South Wales, and in doing so became connected with sporting events.
Prior to 1888, 26 January was very much a New South Wales affair, as each of the colonies had their own commemorations for their founding. In Tasmania, Regatta Day occurred in December, South Australia had Proclamation Day 28 December, and Western Australia had their own Foundation Day (now Western Australia Day) on 1 June
In 1888, all colonial capitals except Adelaide celebrated 'Anniversary Day'. In 1910, South Australia adopted Australia Day, followed by Victoria in 1931. By 1935, all states of Australia were celebrating 26 January as Australia Day (although it was still known as Anniversary Day in New South Wales)
In 1994 all States and Territories began to celebrate a unified public holiday on the actual day for the first time
2013 Australia Day Celebrations
The Governor General Quentin Bryce arriving for the Australia Day Flag Raising and Citizenship Ceremony on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra
PMJulia Gillard and Governor General Quentin Bryce in a group photo with all the newly-sworn Australian citizens in Canberra
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