Why is 26 Jan Australia day? #AustraliaDayJan26
1. It wasn't the day Cook or other Europeans first sighted or landed in Australia.
2. It wasn't the day the first fleet arrived, that was 20 Jan.
3. It wasn't the day Arthur Phillip selected Sydney Cove, that was 22 Jan.
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4. The flag he raised wasn't the Australian flag, but the British flag.
5. Phillip didn't take possession for Australians, but the British crown & toasted the King.
6. Phillip only took possession of the east coast of NSW. It excluded SA, WA, NT & Tasmania.
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7. Only military & convicts were present at the possession ceremony, no settlers.
8. Phillip's goal wasn't settlement, but to establish a penal colony.
9. It wasn't necessarily an invasion of all Australia, Tasmania, WA, Torres Strait etc were separate & much later.
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10. We remained 6 colonies and didn't become a nation for another 113 years.
11. The word Australia didn't exist in 1788
12. We haven't always celebrated Australia Day on 26 Jan
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26 Jan is significant, but not necessarily for the right reason.
On 1 January 1901 we ceased to be a number of colonies & became Australia. It, in my view, isn't as divisive & has a greater claim.
Just sayin'