Other early celebrations of a national holiday were held on May 24, the late Queen Victoria's birthday.
The date of Australia Day changed many times after the Federation of Australia on January 1, 1901.
In 1935, all Australian states agreed to celebrate Australia Day on January 26.
The date was chosen to capitalize on the recent Gallipoli campaign.
The event combined patriotism with fundraising.
The event was repeated in subsequent years of the war.
The date was chosen to create a greater sense of cohesion between the separate colonies.
Australia Day was celebrated on July 30, 1915 as a fundraising event for World War I. The date was chosen to capitalize on the recent Gallipoli campaign.
Explanation
The first Australia Day was a fundraising event for World War I.
The date was chosen to capitalize on the recent Gallipoli campaign.
Australia Day had nothing to do with colonization and everything to do with Gallipoli.
Change the date to something we can all celebrate, remove any reference to the first fleet, cook, Philip, England, make the 26th January fleet day if you want.
Perhaps Migrants from Turkia would object to the relationship to Gallipoli but the tenuous connection to the First Fleet should make it less painful for aboriginal Australians.
Comments
In 1994, Australia Day became a national public holiday for all states and territories.
Other early celebrations of a national holiday were held on May 24, the late Queen Victoria's birthday.
The date of Australia Day changed many times after the Federation of Australia on January 1, 1901.
In 1935, all Australian states agreed to celebrate Australia Day on January 26.
The date was chosen to capitalize on the recent Gallipoli campaign.
The event combined patriotism with fundraising.
The event was repeated in subsequent years of the war.
The date was chosen to create a greater sense of cohesion between the separate colonies.
Explanation
The first Australia Day was a fundraising event for World War I.
The date was chosen to capitalize on the recent Gallipoli campaign.
Any day representing the beginning of colonisation/invasion would be just as divisive.
Change the date to something we can all celebrate, remove any reference to the first fleet, cook, Philip, England, make the 26th January fleet day if you want.
The 26th is just a random date but it's been significant for decades so there's no need to change it.