Proclamation Day is the name of a number of official or unofficial holidays or other anniversaries which commemorate or mark an important proclamation. In some cases it may be the day of, or the anniversary of, the proclamation of a monarch's ascension to the throne. A proclamation day may also celebrate the independence of a country, the end of a war, or the ratification of an important treaty.
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South Australia
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Proclamation Day is the South Australian public holiday that celebrates the proclamation of South Australia from King William IV South Australia Letters Patent as a British province. The proclamation was made by Governor Commander in chief Captain John Hindmarsh, on Kaurna Yerta (land) beside The Old Gum Tree at Glenelg, on 28 December 1836. The proclamation included the same protection under the law for the local native populations as for the British Subject settlers. It is now a public holiday in South Australia, although this holiday is held on the first otherwise working day after the Christmas Day public holiday (usually 26 December).[1] Formal ceremonies and celebrations are always held on 28 December. Governor Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce finally formally first recognised Kaurna in the 2008 ceremony.
The proclamation was printed by Robert Thomas (1782-1860), who came from England with his family on the Africaine, which arrived at Kaurna Yerta (Holdfast Bay) on 8 November 1836. Thomas brought with him the first printing press to reach South Australia. The press was a Stanhope Invenit No. 200 [2], and was on display in the State Library until 2001. The colonising fleet consisted of 10 vessels which gathered at Nepean Bay before being directed to Holdfast Bay. The Africaine was the first to arrive, discharging settlers on 9 November 1836, followed by the Emma, the John Pirie, and the Tam O'Shanter. These deliberately preceded Governor John Hindmarsh on the Buffalo to enable preparations including the printing of the proclamation in advance of his formal arrival on 28 December. Thomas's wife Mary (who died in 1875) published The Diary of Mary Thomas, in which she described the journey on the Africaine and the early years in South Australia. An extract from the diary reads:
"About December 20th 1836, we built a rush hut a short distance from our tents for the better accommodation of part of our family... and in this place (about 12 feet square) the first printing in South Australia was produced."
One of the children of Robert and Mary Thomas was a surveyor who assisted Colonel William Light in the survey which led to the founding of the City of Adelaide. Another son, William Kyffin Thomas, inherited from his father the newspaper of the time, The Register, which his parents had set up. William had a son, also called Robert, who became senior proprietor of The Register. He was knighted by King Edward VII in 1909 when President of the first great Press Conference in London. This is celebrated at the Old Gum Tree on December 28th each year. .
Western Australia
Proclamation Day also refers to October 21, 1890, the day that responsible government was proclaimed in Western Australia. It used to be a public holiday in Western Australia, but gradually the celebrations were pre-empted by those who wished to celebrate the achievement of the eight-hour day. In 1919 it was renamed Labour Day, and shortly afterwards the celebration date changed, with the result that Proclamation Day is no longer a public holiday in Western Australia.
United Kingdom
Proclamation Day in the United Kingdom, and presumably all other Commonwealth sharing the same monarchy, is the day on which a new King or Queen is proclaimed following a Demise of the Crown.
In the UK, this is marked by the raising of the Union Flag from half-mast to its normal position, an exception in the normal process of mourning. However, the Royal Standard is never flown at half-mast. When the monarch dies, the flag is lowered and immediately raised again, in accordance with the custom The King is dead. Long live the King [3].
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