When is Australia Day?

Answer 1

Australia Day is celebrated on 26 January each year.

The day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, the unfurling of the British flag at Sydney Cove and the proclamation of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia. Despite what many people believe, it has nothing to do with Captain Cook.

Australia Day is an official public Holiday in every state and territory of Australia, and is marked by the order of Australia and Australian of the year awards, along with an address from the Prime minister. It is also the day when many citizenship ceremonies are held, allowing immigrants to become Australian citizens. In addition, it is the day when "Australian of the Year" awards in various categories are announced.

Answer 2

Australia is not a republic, so Australia does not have a republic day.

Australia's national day of celebration is Australia Day, January 26 of every year.

This is neither a "Republic Day" nor an "Independence Day" celebration, as it does not celebrate Australia's independence from Great Britain. It merely celebrates the arrival of the first Europeans to settle on Australian shores.

The closest Australia has come to an "Independence Day" is Federation, when the six states came together as one federated nation, under an Australian Prime Minister. This date is not celebrated annually, but it occurred on 1 January 1901.

As a British Colony and later a British Dominion Australia gradually gained more and more autonomy. It did not achieve full independent Sovereignty until 3 March 1986, when the Australia Acts came into effect, terminating all British jurisdiction over Australia.