On January 26 1788 Captain Arthur Phillip took formal possession of the colony of New South Wales and raised the British flag in Sydney Cove. In the early 1880s, this day was known as ‘First Landing’, ‘Anniversary Day’ or ‘Foundation Day’. In 1946 the Commonwealth and state governments agreed to unify the celebration and call it ‘Australia Day’. The day became a public holiday in 1818 (its 30th anniversary) and since 1994 has been celebrated by all states and territories.

However, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people feel that this day marks the commemoration of a deep loss – loss of their sovereign rights to their land, loss of family, loss of the right to practice their culture. This day is therefore also known as ‘Invasion Day’, ‘Day of Mourning’, ‘Survival Day’ or, since 2006, ‘Aboriginal Sovereignty Day’. The name Survival Day emphasises that Aboriginal culture is still strong, and that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ identities are positive and alive, despite all that has happened since colonisation. Survival Day has become one of the biggest national Indigenous cultural events.