Commentary
Now that most of the musket smoke has been blown away after the Australia Day (or “Invasion Day”) celebrations, it’s time to take stock and survey the battlefield.
People will tell you that the gazetting of Australia Day as a national public holiday is only a relatively recent innovation, and that is partly true—1988 was the year when it was finally formalised to mark the 200th anniversary of the settlement at Sydney Cove. This is one weapon in the armoury of those who advocate a change of date.
But the truth is that Jan. 26 has been celebrated in several states since the early days of European settlement, both before and after the Federation, sometimes under other names. “Foundation Day” was one such, often used in the 19th century….