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Australia Day: from federation to forty years of the Tent Embassy



Australia Day is celebrated on January 26 each year. This year marks 224 years of European settlement and 111 years of Federation. The name of the day has undergone several changes: from Foundation Day to Anniversary Day to Australia Day. In addition, this year is the fortieth anniversary of the 'Aboriginal Tent Embassy.'

Captain Arthur Phillip, from Britain, took formal possession of the colony of New South Wales (on the east coast of Australia) on January 26, 1788 and became its first Governor. The first official celebrations were held in 1818 to mark the 30th anniversary of European settlement. In the early nineteenth century, the anniversary was called Foundation Day. On the 50th anniversary, a public holiday was declared in New South Wales and it became an annual event. By 1888, all colonial capitals of Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Darwin and Hobart), except Adelaide, proclaimed Anniversary Day a public holiday. Before 1901 each state and territory of Australia had its own government and state flag. The federal dream was to join all of the six states and the one territory of Australia to form one nation – “One people, one flag, one destiny”.  On January 1, 1901 the dream was realized and the first Australian government, under the leadership of Edmund Barton, was sworn in. This was the formal proclamation of a federated Australia by the Governor-General Lord Hopetoun. Afterwards the Australian Capital Territory was established and Canberra became the nation’s capital.   

In 1946, the Commonwealth Government, States and Territories agreed to observe one national day and it became known as Australia Day.

In the bi-centenary year of 1988, the year was named a Year of Mourning for Australia’s First Nations population who regarded the year as a celebration of survival.

This year is significant for First Nations peoples as it is the 40th year of the establishment of the 'Aboriginal Tent Embassy' outside Old Parliament House, where is still stands today.

Four men established the 'Aboriginal Tent Embassy' in January 1972 on the lawns of Old Parliament House as a simple but significant protest. Michael Anderson, Billie Craigie, Tony Koorie, and Bertie Williams, launched the 'Embassy' in response to Prime Minister Billy McMahon’s refusal to grant land rights for the First Nations peoples. In 1992, the 'Aboriginal Tent Embassy' was established as a permanent occupation. It has remained there ever since. In 1995, the 'Aboriginal Tent Embassy' was entered in the Register of the National Estate, Australia's official listing of natural and cultural heritage places. However, it is not recognized as an official Embassy.

Despite government efforts to remove the tents (due to its “illegal occupation” and later deeming it to be an “eyesore”), it has become a continuous and perpetual form of protest – the ultimate “sit-in” or Occupy Movement. The significance of the Tent Embassy is that it has a 40 year history, continuously for the past 20 years. This means it can be regarded as the longest running political demonstration in the world.

This year, for three days from January 26 to 28, 2012, the Corroboree for Sovereignty celebration invites supporters to gather at the Tent Embassy to mark its 40th anniversary. The program of the three-day anniversary will focus on deaths in custody, including a national day of action, and presentations on the tragedy of youth suicide. The Corroboree for Sovereignty is always held on January 26, Australia Day, which First Nations peoples and supporters often refer to as Invasion Day.  

There is a feeling from Elders that now is the time for younger people to become more involved in issues that affect them, particularly health, wellbeing, and mental health issues. It is felt that, over the past forty years, the lifestyle, concerns, and rights of the First Nations populations have not been significantly advanced. This year supporters will continue to advocate changing the Australian Constitution to recognize First Nations' sovereignty. This will recognize their advocacy for comprehensive land rights and an end to mining on their land.

Elders welcome support from the general community, the multicultural community, unions and all supporters for a united community which fully recognizes their rights.

The iconic Tent Embassy is listed on Canberra’ tourist map. A symbol at the Tent Embassy is a sacred fire which represents peace, justice, and sovereignty, much like an eternal flame. International and domestic visitors are invited to place gum leaves on the ceremonial fire as a symbol of protection during their stay in Australia.




MARTINA NICOLLS

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MARTINA NICOLLS  is an international human rights-based consultant in education, healing and wellbeing, peace and stabilization, foreign aid audits and evaluations, and the author  of: The Paris Residences of James Joyce  (2020), Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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