Australia Day

About halfway between Australia and India and a bit southwest off the coast of Sumatra lies Cocos Islands, also known as Keeling Islands. As an Australian Territory, Cocos Islands celebrates Australia Day along with mainland Australian states and territories. In 2027, Australia Day falls on Tuesday 26 January. The holiday will be on Wednesday 26 January in 2028. Australia Day is celebrated on 26 January to commemorate the arrival of the first British colonists back in 1788. In October 1786, Arthur Phillip was appointed captain of the HMS Sirius, and assigned to transport British convicts to the continent. His mission was to establish an agricultural work camp. Captain Phillip commanded a fleet of 11 ships and 1,500 passengers, including 700 prisoners. After an 8-month journey, they reached Sydney Cove. It was 26 January 1788 when the First Fleet landed in Sydney Cove. Between 18 and 20 January, the First Fleet of 11 ships sailed into Botany Bay to set up a penal colony there but the bay proved to be unsuitable. Captain Phillip took a team north and named the area on the south shore of Port Jackson as Sydney Cove. The formal establishment of the colony occurred two weeks later on 7 February.