When does Australia celebrate its birthday?

Answer 1

Australia declared independence on January 1, 1901, and is 110 years old as of 2011.

Correction:

Australia did not "declare independence", as true independence did not come until the Australia Act of 1986. On 1 January 1901, federation of the states occurred, and the "Commonwealth of Australia" was born. This was not a move of independence, as the Australian government was still very much dictated to by Britain.

However, the actual name of Australia was adopted in 1824, and some may regard this as being Australia's birthday.

Others (but not the indigenous people of Australia) would regard Australia's birthday as being 26 January 1788, which is when the First Fleet arrived at Port Jackson, and the british flag was raised for the first time on Australia's soil.

Answer 2

As a country, Australia's "birthday" is theoretically on 1 January, as Federation of the colonies occurred on 1January 1901. However, this date has only ever been celebrated on any sizeable scale once, and that was in 2001, the centenary of Federation.

Australia celebrates Australia Day every year on 26 January. This is the anniversary of the date that the First Fleet of convicts, officers and marines arrived at Port Jackson and raised the British flag, signalling the official start of European settlement in Australia. It has become a contentious celebration, as the day also marks the beginning of the displacement of the Aboriginal people. Also, it is not the birthday of Australia, as this occurred in 1788, and Australia as a continent was not recognised by that name until 1824.