Relocation Advice

Australia Day explained:

Why the Date is Difficult for many.

Introduction

For many Australians, 26 January is a public holiday marked by barbecues, citizenship ceremonies, and celebrations of national identity. For many others—particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples—it is a deeply painful date. Understanding why this day is difficult is an important part of understanding Australia’s history and the ongoing impact of colonisation.

This tension does not come from a lack of pride in Australia, but from the fact that the date marks the beginning of profound loss, trauma, and disruption for Indigenous peoples.

What Happened on 26 January 1788

On 26 January 1788, the British First Fleet raised the Union Jack at Sydney Cove, marking the establishment of the first permanent British colony in Australia.

For the British, this event represented expansion and settlement. For Aboriginal peoples of the Sydney region and beyond, it marked the beginning of invasion, dispossession, and violence. Indigenous nations already lived on and cared for this land under their own laws, governance systems, and spiritual traditions.

The declaration of Australia as terra nullius—land belonging to no one—denied the existence of Indigenous societies entirely and laid the legal foundation for widespread land theft and cultural destruction.

Invasion, Not Discovery

From an Indigenous perspective, Australia was not “discovered” in 1788. It was already home to hundreds of nations with deep connections to Country going back tens of thousands of years.

The arrival of the First Fleet triggered:

• Violent frontier conflict
• Forced removal from land
• Introduced diseases
• The breakdown of families, languages, and cultural systems

For many Indigenous Australians, 26 January represents the start of these injustices, not a moment to celebrate.

A Day of Mourning

As early as 1938, Indigenous Australians publicly challenged the celebration of 26 January. On the 150th anniversary of colonisation, Aboriginal leaders organised a Day of Mourning, calling attention to the ongoing exclusion, poverty, and discrimination faced by Indigenous people.

This protest was one of the earliest organised civil rights actions in Australia and demonstrates that discomfort with the date is not a modern trend—it has existed for generations.

Why the Date Still Matters Today

The impacts of colonisation did not end in the 18th or 19th centuries. Policies of protection, segregation, and forced child removal continued well into the 20th century. Many Indigenous families today live with the intergenerational effects of these policies.

For people whose ancestors were dispossessed, killed, or forcibly removed, celebrating the anniversary of colonisation can feel like celebrating the beginning of their suffering.

This is why the date is often referred to as Invasion Day or Survival Day—terms that reflect resistance, resilience, and the ongoing survival of Indigenous cultures despite attempts to erase them.

Respecting Different Perspectives

Australia Day means different things to different people. Some see it as a celebration of modern Australia, democracy, and multiculturalism. Others experience it as a reminder of loss and injustice.

Acknowledging that the date is painful for many does not require rejecting pride in Australia. Rather, it asks for empathy, honesty, and a willingness to listen to Indigenous voices.

Many Australians support the idea that national celebration should be inclusive—one that does not ask the First Peoples of the land to celebrate the start of their dispossession.

Moving Forward

The discussion around 26 January is ultimately about how Australia chooses to remember its past and imagine its future. For some, changing the date is about creating a national day that all Australians can participate in without pain.

For others, it is about truth‑telling, recognition, and respect—acknowledging that Australia’s history includes both ancient cultures and colonisation, survival and loss.

Whatever the outcome, listening to Indigenous perspectives and understanding why the date is difficult is an essential step toward reconciliation.

Conclusion

26 January is not just a public holiday—it is a symbol. For many Indigenous Australians, it represents invasion, loss, and resilience in the face of ongoing injustice.

Understanding this does not divide Australians. Instead, it creates space for a more honest, compassionate, and inclusive national conversation about who we are and how we move forward together.