Letters
Australia Day confusion
Ed,
John Ibbotson (CVI 20/1/21)) is confused by the reason Australia Day is on January 26.
He points out the First Fleet landed on January 18.
That was when they originally came ashore at Botany Bay. It was January 26 when they moved the First Fleet to Sydney Cove and planted the British flag.
January 26 was the date that Australia was first settled by the British, symbolically indicated by the flying of the British flag. From as early as 1808 the day was celebrated by settlers, many referring it to Foundation Day, the founding of the British colony.
Ken Finlayson, Ashby Heights