Australia Day 2023. Change the Date? What to?

Flags at the Shrine, Melbourne, 8 Oct 2020

I took this image as I walked past the Shrine in Melbourne on a gloomy day in October 2020. We had been in 'lockdown' for months, but these three flags (National, State and Aboriginal) flying breezily together, in unity, somehow cheered me up. By contrast, the atmosphere as we approach this year's Australia Day celebration fills me with sadness. There is too much angry division.

It’s easy to jump on the bandwagon of the #ChangeTheDate campaign for #AustraliaDay. But it’s not so easy to spend the time thinking of the rationale for a better alternative date and then obtain the necessary community support for that choice. It will take hard work.

I don’t support changing the date, in fact I see every reason to retain 26 January as Australia Day. Could there be any day more meaningful in our history as a nation and more able to generate genuine community discussion of where we’ve come from, where we’re heading, and what we can contribute as good citizens? Could there be any date more unique, more distinctive among all the world’s national days, compared with the day that incoming Europeans met a culture extending back for more than 60,000 years? Being the descendant of a First Fleeter I believe I can see both sides of that story and I’ve done my best to tell it fairly in my book ‘Sentenced to Debt: Robert Forrester, First Fleeter’. 

Despite my personal views, I have been willing to do a bit of groundwork laying out a framework of possibilities - or unsuitabilities - for an alternate date. It’s clear that if we decide to change the date, perhaps to the day that we become a republic and truly independent as a nation (ho hum, just like so many other countries) - or the day that we pass the referendum on ‘The Voice’ or enact a Treaty as part of the Uluru Statement from the Heart - then we’d better take great care about our choice of date when we take those actions, lest it clash with a problematic date.

The calendar is very crowded. Some of the dates below mark our progressive march away from ties to the British. Some of the dates mark achievements in our own right as Australians, of which we can be proud and which contribute to our sense of national identity. Some of the dates will be unacceptable because they denote the killing or, worse, massacre of Aboriginal people (and some settlers) somewhere in our nation, only some of which dates are listed below. 

Some of the alternative dates have already claimed international significance for other reasons, either as the anniversary of a world event or the national day for major segments of our multicultural community. Some of the dates don’t fit with our seasons, current lifestyles and our existing sense of identity – for example, who wants to celebrate 'Australianness' in the depths of winter? Some of the dates are unsuitable, like New Year’s Day, when the populace is tired and often hungover from New Year’s Eve celebrations.

It’s amazing how many interpretations of the dates in our history can be found, even among the ranks of professional historians. In my table, the Year column denotes how long the event has been recognised in Australia, or overseas. The material is sourced from multiple, official or seemingly reliable, websites on the internet and I thank the numerous authors. 

I forgive myself in advance for any mistakes and omissions I have made and welcome your corrections and additional suggestions. But please – let's just stop this mindless chant of ‘Change the Date’, if that's what people want, and start focusing on ‘What to?’

EVENT	DAY	MONTH	YEAR
New Year’s Day (worldwide)	1	Jan
‘Federation Day’, Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 comes into force	1	Jan	1901
Commonwealth Nationality Act 1920 comes into effect. Codified concept of a British subject for natural-born and naturalised Australians. Outsiders were 'aliens'. No mention of Indigenous Australians.	1	Jan	1921
Native Title Act 1993 comes into effect and the National Native Title Tribunal is established	1	Jan	1994
First ship of First Fleet enters Botany Bay	18	Jan	1788
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Murray River, QLD	20	Jan	1870
Phillip discovers Sydney Harbour, ‘the finest harbour in the world’.	21	Jan	1788
Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year), a 15 day festival beginning from new moon that appears between 21 Jan and 20 Feb.	22	Jan	2023
Phillip, officers and marines camp overnight at Sydney Cove	25	Jan	1788
Phillip, officers and marines at Sydney Cove hold flag-raising ceremony.	26	Jan	1788
The remainder of the fleet arrives in Sydney Cove in the late afternoon.	26	Jan	1788
Landing Day celebrated	26	Jan	1790
Rum Rebellion, Governor Bligh overthrown in a coup d'état	26	Jan	1808
Governor Macquarie proclaims first official public holiday to celebrate 'Foundation Day'	26	Jan	1818
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Waterloo Creek, NSW	26	Jan	1838
‘Anniversary Day’ established as a public holiday in Victoria by the Australian Natives Association.	26	Jan	1871
NSW government changes name of ‘Anniversary Day’ to ‘Australia Day’, an idea supported later that year by Prime Minister.	26	Jan	1932
The ‘Day of Mourning’ instituted as a day of protest by Aboriginal Australians, with a focus on loss of land and mistreatment. Aboriginal Advancement League begins to call it ‘Invasion Day’. Many now call it ‘Survival Day’.	26	Jan	1938
Nationality and Citizenship Act of 21 Dec 1948, creating Australian citizenship and conditions by which it can be acquired, comes into force. Indigenous people as ‘natural-born’ Australians implicitly included. Australian citizens continue to be British citizens.	26	Jan	1949
Indian Republic Day honours the date when Constitution of India replaced the Government of India Act (1935).	26	Jan	1950
Male convicts on First Fleet unloaded and start building the camp site in Sydney Cove	27	Jan	1788
Emancipists hold a dinner party and sing toasts to ‘Rise Australia’ (but on 27 Jan, as 26 Jan in that year fell on a Sunday).	27	Jan	1817
Holocaust Memorial Day, marking date when the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp was liberated, honouring victims, survivors and rescuers of Nazi regime in Germany (United Nations date)	27	Jan	1945
New citizens pledge their commitment to Australia, replacing an oath to the Queen of Australia.	31	Jan	1994
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Barmah Lake, VIC	1	Feb	1843
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Loddon Junction, VIC	1	Feb	1846
Sri Lanka Independence Day, also known as National Day, commemorates political independence from British rule.	4	Feb	1948
Waitangi Day, New Zealand, commemorates signing of Treaty of Waitangi	6	Feb	1840
First Fleet's female convicts come ashore	6	Feb	1788
Formal Proclamation of the Colony of New South Wales (which then included today's QLD, NSW, VIC, TAS and ACT).	7	Feb	1788
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Cape Grim, TAS	10	Feb	1828
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Manumbar, QLD	10	Feb	1861
Japan's National Foundation Day celebrates the accession of Japan's first emperor, Emperor Jimmu on 11 Feb 660 BC	11	Feb	1873
Islamic Revolution Day, National Day of Iran, also known as Bahman 22nd	11	Feb	1979
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd moves a motion of Apology to the "Stolen Generation" of Indigenous Australians, responding to ‘Bringing Them Home’ Report	13	Feb	2008
Valentine's Day (worldwide)	14	Feb
Massacre of Aboriginal People at West Tamar, TAS	18	Feb	1829
‘Battle of Darwin', the first of 100 air raids on Australia by the Japanese during World War 2	19	Feb	1942
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Lubra Creek, VIC	24	Feb	1842
Russia invades Ukraine	24	Feb	2022
Willem Janszoon aboard 'Duyfken' lands near today's Weipa on Cape York Peninsula	26	Feb	1606
Welsh National Day (St David's Day)	1	Mar
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Twofold Bay, NSW	1	Mar	1806
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Deepwater, NSW	1	Mar	1845
Australia Act 1986 - Australia’s Constitution can no longer be changed by UK parliament, only by a national referendum. Appeals to UK’s Privy Council cease. The Queen remains Australia’s head of state.	3	Mar	1986
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Yuleba Creek, QLD	4	Mar	1850
Labour Day in WA	6	Mar	2023
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Fighting Hills, VIC	8	Mar	1840
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Clyde & Ouse Rivers, TAS	10	Mar	1830
World Health Organisation declares novel coronavirus (COVID-19) a worldwide pandemic.	11	Mar	2020
British Commonwealth Day (second Monday in March since 1958) - no longer a national public holiday but public holidays coincide with this day in ACT (Canberra Day), Victoria (Labour Day), & South Australia (Adelaide Cup Day).	13	Mar	2023
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Buxton's Property, TAS	14	Mar	1826
Ireland's National Day (St Patrick's Day). Irish Catholics begin celebrating St Patrick’s Day in Australia	17	Mar	1795
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Bullock Hunting Ground, TAS	19	Mar	1828
Harmony Day, coinciding with United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, promotes activities which enhance a sense of belonging within diverse communities.	21	Mar	1999
Ramadan - the ninth month of the Islamic Year. In 2023 Ramadan in Australia begins in the evening of Wednesday, 22 Mar and ended in the evening of Thursday, 20 Apr	22	Mar	2023
Pakistan Day or Pakistan Resolution Day, also Republic Day, marks adoption of Pakistan's first constitution, when it became the world's first Islamic republic.	23	Mar	1956
Greece Independence Day, commemorates start of War of Greek Independence from Ottoman Empire in 1821. It coincides with Greek Orthodox Church celebration of Annunciation to the Theotokos.	25	Mar	1821
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Clyde & Ouse Rivers, TAS	28	Mar	1929
April Fool’s Day (worldwide)	1	Apr
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Fighting Hills, VIC	1	Apr	1840
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Elizabeth River, TAS	2	Apr	1828
Australians voluntarily becoming citizens of other countries no longer lose Australian citizenship.	4	Apr	2002
Good Friday (worldwide)	7	Apr	2023
Easter Sunday, the first Sunday after the first Full Moon occurring on or after the March equinox on 21 March (worldwide)	9	Apr	2023
Easter Monday	10	Apr	2023
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Whiteside Station, QLD	15	Apr	1858
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Appin, NSW	17	Apr	1816
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Whitefoord Hills, TAS	18	Apr	1830
England's National Day (St George's Day)	23	Apr
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Yamboucal Station, QLD	23	Apr	1849
ANZAC Day (Gallipoli)	25	Apr	1915
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Nepean River, NSW	27	Apr	1805
Freedom Day, South Africa, celebrates the first elections when all citizens had the right to vote	27	Apr	1994
Port Arthur Massacre in Tasmania	28	Apr	1996
First Englishman sets foot onshore at Botany Bay	29	Apr	1770
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Slaughterhouse Creek, NSW	1	May	1838
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Yeelanna, SA	1	May	1849
Spanish explorer Pedro Fernandez de Quiros names the New Hebrides, which he assumed to be a continent balancing up the northern hemisphere landmasses, as Austrialis del Espiritu Santo	3	May	1606
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Risdon Cove, TAS	3	May	1804
Coronation of King Charles III	6	May	2023
Ma -ate Day (May eight) suggested	8	May	2018
Europe Day (European Union)	9	May	1950
Prime Minister John Howard bans all automatic and semi-automatic weapons in the country.	10	May	1996
Mother's Day (2nd Sunday in May)	14	May	2023
Israel's National Day, Day of Independence, celebrates its Declaration of Independence (celebrations can be either side of this date for religious reasons)	14	May	1948
Eddie Mabo and others begin their claim to title over their lands in the Torres Strait	20	May	1982
East Timor Independence Day marks independence of Timor Leste from Indonesian rule.	20	May	2002
Aborigines win the right to enrol and vote in Federal elections.	21	May	1962
Empire Day proclaimed.	24	May	1903
Irish Catholics begin referring to May 24 as ‘Australia Day’	24	May	1911
‘Bringing Them Home’ report tabled in Federal Parliament, dealing with impact of forcible removal policies separating Aboriginal children from their families.	26	May	1997
National ‘Sorry’ Day, a grass roots response to the conservative government’s refusal to apologise for federal policies described in ‘Bringing Then Home’ Report.	26	May	1998
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Mt Dispersion, Murray River, NSW	27	May	1836
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Waterloo Bay, SA	27	May	1849
Australians overwhelmingly support referendum to give Commonwealth Parliament power to make laws in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and include them in the census.	27	May	1967
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Bathurst Plains, NSW	31	May	1824
Japanese midget submarines attack Sydney Harbour	31	May	1942
Samoan Independence Day celebrates freedom from command by New Zealand	1	Jun	1962
Italy Republic Day, also known as Festa della Repubblica, marks the day when Italians voted to abolish the monarchy.	2	Jun	1946
‘Lady Juliana', the 'floating brothel' and first convict transport ship of Second Fleet, arrives at Sydney	3	Jun	1790
Mabo v Queensland No. 2 1992 – High Court judgement agrees that traditional ownership existed and had not been extinguished by British possession.	3	Jun	1992
Dutch ship 'Batavia' wrecked off West Australian coast	4	Jun	1629
Nationality and Citizenship Act amended and renamed the Citizenship Act, making it easier for the influx of non-British immigrants to become citizens. All Australian citizens now ‘Australian citizens with the status of a British subject’ rather than British subjects.	4	Jun	1969
Tiananmen Square Massacre, Beijing	4	Jun	1989
D-Day, World War 2, largest seaborne invasion in history	6	Jun	1944
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Hawkesbury, NSW - caution, this took place in May, not June	7	Jun	1795
Matthew Flinders circumnavigates Australia, 1801-03, and arrives in Sydney Harbour on 9 June, having proved it was a continent.	9	Jun	1803
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Campaspe, VIC	9	Jun	1840
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Myall Creek, NSW	10	Jun	1838
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Mount Rouse, VIC	11	Jun	1840
Racial Discrimination Act 1975, outlawing certain forms of racial discrimination.	11	Jun	1975
Commonwealth Franchise Act defined who could vote in Commonwealth elections, and included all women but excluded many native races including Australian Aborigines.	12	Jun	1902
King's Birthday since 4 June 1788. From 1966 the Queen’s (now King's) Birthday has been celebrated around her official birthday (not her actual birthday) on second Monday in June (Qld & WA have different days)	12	Jun	2023
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Dairy Plains, TAS	13	Jun	1827
Battle of Waterloo, Europe	18	Jun	1815
Aboriginal people allowed to vote in Federal elections.	18	Jun	1962
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Glenmore Downs, QLD	21	Jun	1866
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Laycock Falls, TAS	24	Jun	1827
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Frew River, NT	24	Jun	1891
Korean War begins	25	Jun	1950
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Quamby Brook, TAS	26	Jun	1827
Treaty of Versailles, official end of World War 1	28	Jun	1919
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Umbercollie Station, QLD	30	Jun	1848
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Moreton Island, QLD	1	Jul	1831
Canada Day, celebrates the date when three separate colonies united to form Canada	1	Jul	1867
Australian Citizenship Act 2007 replaces 1948 Act – and introduces a citizenship test	1	Jul	2007
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Naracoorte Caves, VIC	2	Jul	1845
Independence Day, USA, when the American colonies signed Declaration of Independence from UK	4	Jul	1776
‘Mary Ann', first transport ship of Third Fleet, arrives at Sydney carrying female convicts	9	Jul	1791
Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900, an Act of the UK Parliament, becomes law	9	Jul	1900
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Morinish Goldfields, QLD	12	Jul	1867
Bastille Day, France	14	Jul	1789
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Mt Cottrell, Werribee, VIC	16	Jul	1836
Malaysian Airlines Flight MH 17 shot down over Ukraine, significant loss of Australian life	17	Jul	2014
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Mt McMinn, NT	19	Jul	1875
Battle of Fromelles, WW1, huge Australian death toll	19	Jul	1916
Massacre of Colonisers at Breelong, NSW	20	Jul	1900
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Mt McMinn, NT	23	Jul	1875
Pozieres Campaign begins, WW1, huge Australian death toll	23	Jul	1916
Papua New Guinea Remembrance Day, marks start of Battle of Kokoda and commemorates Papua New Guineans who have died in military service.	23	Jul	1942
William Dampier aboard the 'Roebuck' reaches and names Shark Bay on the West Australian coast, having already landed on west coast in 1688	26	Jul	1699
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Mt Haldon, QLD	27	Jul	1843
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Raffles Bay, NT	30	Jul	1827
Red Cross designates 30 Jul 1915 and 30 Jul 1916 as ‘Australia Day’ as a fund-raising event.	30	Jul	1915
Australia enters World War 1	4	Aug	1914
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Wannon River, VIC	6	Aug	1843
National Day of Singapore commemorates Singapore's independence from Malaysia.	9	Aug	1965
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Fitzroy River Valley, WA	14	Aug	1896
India's National Day. Independence Day marks day when UK Parliament transferred legislative sovereignty to the Indian Constituent Assembly.	15	Aug	1947
Prime Minister Gough Whitlam hands over freehold title of the Gurindji lands	16	Aug	1975
Indonesia's National Day celebrates reading of the proclamation of independence from the Netherlands	17	Aug	1945
Vietnam Veterans Day, commemorating Battle of Long Tan on 18 Aug 1966	18	Aug	1969
Afghan Independence Day commemorates the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919 and relinquishment of its status as a state protected by Britain against the Russians and Persia	19	Aug	1921
Australian Citizenship (Amendment) Act 1986. Children born in Australia can only be Australian citizens if at least one parent is an Australian citizen or permanent resident. Removed concept of ‘alien’.	20	Aug	1986
Captain Cook notes in his journal that he’d claimed the east coast of NSW for Britain.	22	Aug	1770
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Rufus River, VIC/SA	23	Aug	1841
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Rufus River, VIC/SA	27	Aug	1841
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Caders Range, NT	29	Aug	1875
Malaysia's National Day (Hari Merdeka) celebrates Malaysia's Declaration of Independence	31	Aug	1957
Diana, Princess of Wales dies	31	Aug	1997
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Turon River, NSW	1	Sep	1824
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Hunter Valley, NSW	1	Sep	1826
Massacre of Aboriginal People east of Ben Lomond, TAS	1	Sep	1829
Wattle Day commences. (National Wattle Day since 1 Sep 1992). Amnesty International promotes this for our National Day.  (Allergy problems??)	1	Sep	1910
World War 2, the deadliest conflict in human history, begins with the invasion of Poland. Hitler signs an order to begin the systematic euthanasia of mentally ill and disabled people.	1	Sep	1939
United States, Australia and New Zealand sign the ANZUS Treaty, a mutual defence pact	1	Sep	1951
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Mole Hill, NT	2	Sep	1875
Massacre of Colonisers at Daly River & Mary River, NT	2	Sep	1884
Vietnam's National Day, commemorating President Hồ Chí Minh reading the Declarations of Independence of Vietnam in Hanoi	2	Sep	1945
Australia enters World War 2	3	Sep	1939
Statute of Westminster Adoption Act of Australian Parliament formally adopts sections 2–6 of UK's Statute of Westminster 1931, an Act enabling total legislative independence of self-governing Dominions of British Empire and further restricting ability of UK Parliament to legislate for the Dominions. Backdated to take effect from outbreak of World War 2.	3	Sep	1942
Father's Day (1st Sunday in September)	3	Sep	2023
Queen Elizabeth II dies, funeral 19 September	8	Sep	2022
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Deepwater, NSW	11	Sep	1842
Attack on Twin Towers of World Trade Centre, New York	11	Sep	2001
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Dairy Plains, TAS	15	Sep	1826
Papua New Guinea Independence Day, commemorating Independence from Australia	16	Sep	1975
Aboriginal boy shot at Hawkesbury in early Sep 1794	17	Sep	1794
Murder of two Aboriginal boys at Hawkesbury	18	Sep	1799
Referendum to ban the Communist Party defeated.	22	Sep	1951
Jewish Religious Holiday period - Sep/Oct, such as Yom Kippur	24	Sep	2023
Cathy Freeman wins 400m Gold Medal in Sydney Olympics	25	Sep	2000
First record of a Colonial Frontier Massacre, of 6 Aboriginal People, by civilians at Hawkesbury, NSW. Date unclear but documented on 26 September. Perpetrators never identified or punished.	26	Sep	1794
Australia wins America’s Cup	26	Sep	1983
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Argument Flat, NT	27	Sep	1884
AFL Grand Final Day (last Saturday in Sep) with public holiday in Victoria on the preceding Friday.	30	Sep	2023
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Minnamurra River, NSW	1	Oct	1818
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Dourallie Creek, NSW	1	Oct	1846
National Day of People's Republic of China celebrates its foundation ceremony in Tiananmen Square, forming the Central People's Government. This is also Hong Kong's National Day.	1	Oct	1949
NRL Grand Final Day (1st Sunday in October)	1	Oct	2023
Labour Day in ACT, NSW & SA and King's Birthday, QLD	2	Oct	2023
National Iraqi Day celebrates the day Iraq joined the United Nations.	3	Oct	1932
Germany's National Day (German Unity Day)	3	Oct	1990
Trial of William Millar and Thomas Bevan for murder of the Aboriginal man Tom Rowley (9th or 10th October)	9	Oct	1797
Commonwealth Electoral Act makes voting compulsory, with penalties for failure to vote.	10	Oct	1924
Fiji Day marks cession to UK in 1874 and independence gained in 1970	10	Oct	1970
Fiesta Nacional de Espana (Spain's National Day) celebrates the arrival date of Christopher Columbus in America. Other countries also mark Columbus Day.	12	Oct	1935
Bali Bombings, significant loss of Australian life	12	Oct	2002
Naturalisation Act 1903 excludes Aboriginal people and people from Asian countries.	13	Oct	1903
Battle of Hastings NOTE : this is also the date in 2023 when Australians rejected the referendum on 'The Voice'	14	Oct	1066
Robert Forrester is first man brought before an official enquiry to answer the charge of shooting an Aboriginal boy at Hawkesbury on 17 Sep 1794.	17	Oct	1794
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Bluff Rock, NSW	17	Oct	1844
Massacre of Colonisers at Cullin-la-Ringo, Qld	17	Oct	1861
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Upper Maranoa, QLD	19	Oct	1861
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Cockatoo Valley, TAS	23	Oct	1828
First recorded landing by a European (Dirk Hartog) on West Australian coast, at Shark Bay	25	Oct	1616
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Nogoa River, QLD	25	Oct	1861
Austria’s National Day (Austria not to be confused with Australia)	26	Oct	1955
Massacre of Colonisers at Hornet Bank Station, QLD	27	Oct	1857
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Pinjarra, WA	28	Oct	1834
First conscription plebiscite in WW1 fails	28	Oct	1916
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Woolgar River, QLD	30	Oct	1863
Halloween (worldwide)	31	Oct
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Maryborough, QLD	1	Nov	1854
Vietnam War begins	1	Nov	1955
Boer War involvement begins when the first formed unit of troops from Australia lands in Cape Town	2	Nov	1899
Balfour Declaration, a public statement issued by the British government in 1917 during World War I announcing support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine.	2	Nov	1926
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Battle Camp, QLD	5	Nov	1873
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Fitzroy River, QLD	6	Nov	1860
Defeat of Australian Republic Referendum	6	Nov	1999
Melbourne Cup (1st Tuesday in November)	7	Nov	2023
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Junction of Murray & Darling Rivers, NSW	11	Nov	1839
Eureka Statement at Ballarat	11	Nov	1854
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Ivanhoe Station, WA	11	Nov	1895
Remembrance Day marks date when World War 1 Armistice came into effect (worldwide)	11	Nov	1918
Dismissal of Australia's Prime Minister by Governor General	11	Nov	1975
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Glen Helen, NT	13	Nov	1884
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Meredith River, TAS	15	Nov	1823
Balfour Declaration of 1926 declares UK and its Dominions (including Australia) to be autonomous communities within the British Empire, equal in status and not subordinate	15	Nov	1926
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Geike Gorge, WA	19	Nov	1894
Lebanese Independence Day celebrates end of French mandate over Lebanon	22	Nov	1943
Australian Citizenship (Amendment) Act 1984 - Australian citizens cease to be ‘British subjects’. British subjects not yet naturalised become ‘permanent residents’.	22	Nov	1984
Thanksgiving Day, long-celebrated but in 1863 declared a national holiday in USA by Abraham Lincoln. Now celebrated in USA on fourth Thursday in November, followed immediately by Black Friday & Cyber Monday as a shopping bonanza	23	Nov	2023
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Exhibition Range, QLD	26	Nov	1861
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Kangaroo Creek, NSW	29	Nov	1847
The Eureka Oath of miners at Ballarat: ‘We swear by the Southern Cross to stand truly by each other, and fight to defend our rights and liberties’.	29	Nov	1854
Scotland's National Day (St Andrew's Day)	30	Nov
Australian Citizenship Act 1973 removes distinction between migrants from Commonwealth & other countries as candidates for Australian citizenship, ending the last vestiges of the ‘White Australia’ policy.	1	Dec	1973
Nationality Act 1920 - naturalised and native-born Australians share the same rights & obligations with respect to Commonwealth government and those outside this group are 'aliens', effective 1 Jan 1921	2	Dec	1920
Abel Tasman plants flag and claims Van Diemens Land (now Tasmania) for the Dutch	3	Dec	1642
Battle of the Eureka Stockade	3	Dec	1854
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Tooms Lake, TAS	6	Dec	1828
Japanese attack Pearl Harbour and Australia declares war on Japan.	8	Dec	1941
Marriage Act amended to permit same sex marriage	8	Dec	2017
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Bank Head Farm, TAS	9	Dec	1826
Mount White volcano erupts in NZ, significant loss of Australian life	9	Dec	2019
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Dawson River, QLD	10	Dec	1861
Statute of Westminster, a British law, grants former British colonies full legal freedom except where they choose otherwise	11	Dec	1931
The words ‘British Passport’ removed from Australian Passports (The Canberra Times, Fri 15 Dec 1967, p 9, Passports No Longer 'British')	14	Dec	1967
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Snowy River, VIC	16	Dec	1846
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Nassau River, QLD	16	Dec	1864
Second WW1 conscription plebiscite fails	20	Dec	1917
Immigration Restriction Act 1901 (the White Australia policy) takes effect.	23	Dec	1901
Japan National Day (Emperor Akihito’s Birthday)	23	Dec	1933
Christmas Eve (worldwide)	24	Dec
Native Title Act 1993 sets out circumstances under which Indigenous people throughout Australia can claim traditional rights to unalienated land.	24	Dec	1993
Christmas Day (worldwide)	25	Dec
Cyclone Tracey destroys Darwin	25	Dec	1974
Boxing Day (worldwide)	26	Dec
Massacre of Colonisers at Mt Larcom Station, QLD	26	Dec	1855
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Ivanhoe Station, WA	27	Dec	1895
Massacre of Aboriginal People at Fort Wellington, NT	29	Dec	1827
New Year’s Eve (worldwide)	31	Dec

 For more details of my work, see my website and my Facebook page. My book 'Sentenced to Debt:Robert Forrester, First Fleeter' is described here and can be purchased here