🇦🇺 Australia Day Countdown
When is Australia Day?
Australia Day is always January 26th — a fixed date every year.
The history of Australia Day
Australia Day marks the anniversary of the 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove and the raising of the Union Flag by Captain Arthur Phillip, formally beginning British colonial settlement in Australia. It became a nationally observed public holiday on this fixed date across all states and territories in 1994.
The date is a significant point of debate: many Indigenous Australians and their supporters refer to it as 'Invasion Day' or 'Survival Day,' marking the beginning of colonization and its impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and there are ongoing public discussions about whether the date should change.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia Day is always January 26th.
Yes — it's a public holiday across Australia, so banks, schools and most businesses close.
The 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove and the start of British colonial settlement.
Many Indigenous Australians view January 26th as marking the start of colonization and its impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, referring to it as 'Invasion Day' or 'Survival Day,' and there is ongoing public debate about changing the date.