by Elaine Sihera

Created on: January 28, 2010   Last Updated: January 29, 2010

Australia Day (or Foundation Day) has had a chequered history because it seeks to celebrate a unique identity, as a united Australia among its peoples, which is still to be achieved in the annual event. From the time of the first white settlement in 1788, Australians have been trying to define what it means to be a citizen by celebrating their evolution.

While it is a day that weaves together the past and present, its celebration is has not been shared by some of Australia's Aboriginal community who consider they were invaded by the British on that day in 1788. Though the government is trying to "recognise the unique status of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples" through the Australia Day National Network, in continued attempts at a reconciliation with them, the Aborigines have their own alternative commemoration on the same day called Survival Day.  Because of this, Australia Day organisers across the country are urged to acknowledge the country's diversity and to be as inclusive as possible so that everyone feels a part of it. Though it has often been criticised, especially by the Aborigines who regard it as 'Invasion Day' and celebrate it as 'Survival Day', it remains the most inclusive celebration in the country, reflecting the national diversity which has become an important part of the Australian national character.

Foundation Day (the name wasn't changed until 1946) has evolved from a small commemorative holiday in New South Wales holiday into a major national celebration.  It is the anniversary of the arrival of the first fleet of 11 convict ships from Great Britain, and the raising of the Union Jack at Sydney Cove by its commander, Captain Arthur Phillip, thus creating the first White settlement in the country.  The convicts (759 of them, including 191 female), had sailed from Portsmouth, England, a year before to establish a convict colony in Australia. In those days, some difficult prisoners, specially protesters and reformers, were sent to Australia as a punishment and to help preserve law and order in Britain.  

The main aim of Australia Day in its current form is to celebrate diversity and tolerance in the nation.  But that was not always the case. Captain Arthur Phillip took ‘formal possession’ of the Colony of New South Wales on 16 January 1788 and also became its governor with its base at Port Jackson.  A society based on the distinctions between convicts and settlers

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