As I proved on the Oz Trivia page a while back, most people don’t even know what we’re celebrating.
Many of our darker brethren are claiming it marks the day Captain (actually Lieutenant at the time) Cook landed in Terra Australis. (Which he didn’t do — just mapped it). Didn’t actually set foot on land until the Endeavour was holed on the reef at what is now Cooktown.
The so-called “Invasion Day” (which in my mind requires an army of invasion and — in the technology of the day — large scale hand-to-hand combat, which didn’t happen* and anyway was contrary to the orders given to the First Fleet commandant) was actually 17th January 1788.
January 26th was the date the camp was moved from Botany Bay to Port Jackson.
If the aboriginal community objects to “Invasion Day” they should be marching on 17th, not 26th of January.
Let’s all just crack a tinny and enjoy our (extra) long weekend together.
* nb. I’m not saying there was no combat with the aborigines, just that there was no massed troop arrival with the intention of subduing a foe. Phillip’s orders were to make all efforts to establish friendly relations with any inhabitants encountered. He was initially successful.
The supposed “invasion force” were basically prison guards.
“... four captains, twelve subalterns, twenty four sergeants & corporals, eight drummers and 160 private marines” hardly constitute an invading army.
(The words of Captain Watkin Tench, one of the four above mentioned, who wrote the first published account of the arrival and experiences of the First Fleet.)