Is Australia Day Australia's Most Controversial Holiday?

[@alvanrigby6361]

And the Dutch saw that it was already colonized. Didn't stop them in Indonesia, South Africa or Ceylon .

[@Laurajanehahn]

Things may of been very different if the Dutch had sailed down the eastern coast of Australia. Yes they saw people already living here but they also observed the west coast to be dry and too difficult to live. Also noted it being over run with rats when they observed Rottnest Island, as they mistook Quokkas for rodents.

[@bristow-smithquentin8691]

What was the nationality of Australia on 26 January 1949? Britsh citizen 26 January 1949. This was when the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 came into effect. Before then, there was no legal status as an 'Australian citizen'. Jan Jandura Pucek had the honour of becoming the first naturalised Australian citizen during the ceremony.

[@sarahhumphreys3980]

No celebrating Australia Day on the 26th of January is not controversial. Hope everyone had a great Australia Day on the 26th🇭🇲🐨🍻🏖

[@thelongs5698]

Sadly all countries have dark times. Thanks for allowing me to learn more about this LJH.

[@MarkCorbo-fz4lr]

Never was Never will Be.

[@Laurajanehahn]

I think it all depends on what views you have on the country to if you see it as controversial or not

[@andrewgraham7659]

Granted there's a lot of time that has passed since Australia was named a nation. Australia is a free country these says. I'm sorry the relations aren't better and some people can't get past or over the hurt. It's time we stopped blaming anyone and everyone.......

[@jecos1966]

I wonder why they didn't take the Convicts to the Canadian Colonies after all back the it belong to the British

[@Laurajanehahn]

Convicts = free labour. That's my guess

[@waynestanley1627]

No one seems know exact date one say 18 th another 20 th when they arrived.

[@Laurajanehahn]

Yep no fakebook timeline back then

[@MartyMart134]

@@waynestanley1627 The minority that white people slaughtered and took all their land and freedom you mean? LOL

[@BobHutton]

Not long ago, here in the inner northern suburbs of Melbourne, if you drove around on 26th January, you'd see many front yards decorated with Australian flags in every street. I saw one flag in one front yard last Friday. Admittedly we are in a fairly progressive (read leftist, if you like) part of Australia, but that's a pretty dramatic change. The First Fleet was a pretty sleazy affair, no matter who's point of view you look at it from. (I'm sure the convicts weren't all that pleased about it). To my mind, the 26th of January is a totally unsuitable day to celebrate our nationhood. One obvious alternative would be Federation Day (1st Jan), but that would get obscured by New Year's Day and the typical Australian post-Christmas activities. I would propose 27 May. Firstly, because not much else seems to happen on that day and secondly, that was the day in 1967 when we held a referendum removing all racial discrimination from our constitution and guaranteed universal suffrage (which seems a far more noble event to be celebrating).

[@richardbehrendt65]

So agree Bob Hutton. What a great idea! My son and myself don't the 26th. Alex agrees. The date you suggested is a much better option. Thank you Bob. From this year Alex and myself will celebrate your suggested day and will let others know. Cheers Richard from Tasmania Australia 🇦🇺

[@richardbehrendt65]

27th May ❤❤❤❤. This should be Australia Day 🇦🇺