page_title: Australia Day
section_title: Sesquicentenary
hierarchical_section_title: Australia Day / History / Sesquicentenary
caption_attribution_description: English: View showing floats in Australia's March to Nationhood Pageant. Crowds, banners, flags visible. Photographer SJ Hood. The Citizens of Sydney Organising Committee Archives.
context_page_description: Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Celebrated annually on 26 January, it marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales, and the raising of the Flag of Great Britain at Sydney Cove by Governor Arthur Phillip. In present-day Australia, celebrations reflect the diverse society and landscape of the nation and are marked by community and family events, reflections on Australian history, official community awards and citizenship ceremonies welcoming new members of the Australian community.
  The meaning and significance of Australia Day has evolved and been contested over time, and not all states have celebrated the same date as their date of historical significance. Unofficially, or historically, the date has also been variously named Anniversary Day, Foundation Day and ANA Day. It is also known as Invasion Day and National Day of Mourning. The date of 26 January 1788 marked the proclamation of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia.
context_section_description: The 150th anniversary of British settlement in Australia in 1938 was widely celebrated. Preparations began in 1936 with the formation of a Celebrations Council. In that year, New South Wales was the only state to abandon the traditional long weekend, and the annual Anniversary Day public holiday was held on the actual anniversary day – Wednesday 26 January. The Commonwealth and state governments agreed to unify the celebrations on 26 January as "Australia Day" in 1946, although the public holiday was instead taken on the Monday closest to the actual anniversary.
caption: Sesquicentenary parade in Sydney, 26 January 1938
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