Australia Day, also known as Anniversary Day, Foundation Day and Invasion Day, is the official national day of Australia. Celebrated annually on 26 January, the day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, marking the start of British colonisation of Australia. 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.

Records of the celebration of Australia Day date back to 1808, with Governor Lachlan Macquarie having held the first official celebration of Australia Day in 1818. In 2004, an estimated 7.5 million people attended Australia Day celebrations and functions across the country.

Australia Day is often seen as controversial by historians of English humanity. Victorians have long argued that Discovery Day, which used to be held on April 19, should have interceded Anzac Day rather than merged with the anniversary of (national) government. Some Indigenous Australians see it as a political celebration and have protested 'Invasion Day' and the destruction of their cultures by British colonialism since 1988.

(... from Wikipedia on 2009-01-01 00:59:49 )