The Story of Australia

This is the Story of Australia – the story of an extraordinary nation.

The Story begins 65,000 years ago. New chapters are written every day.

On Australia Day, we reflect on our history, its highs and its lows.

We respect the stories of others.

And we celebrate our nation, its achievements and most of all, its people.

We’re all part of the story.

Australia Day is about so much more than the events of one day – it is about where we have come from, who we are as a nation and what we aspire to be. January 26 is an important date in Australia’s history that has evolved over time.

On our national day we can reflect on our complete and complex history and understand that acknowledging and reconciling our past helps lay a path to a stronger future. We respect and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ survival, resilience and over 65,000 years of continuous culture.

It’s also a day we can pay respect to the stories, histories and contributions of the Australians who lived, worked and fought for the values and freedoms we sometimes take for granted.

It is a day that will mean different things to each of us. We are all shaped by our own experiences, and we celebrate living in a dynamic, multicultural nation where everyone’s views, beliefs and contributions are valued.

More than half of all Australians participate in Australia Day, attending events organised by State Governments, local councils and community groups, or getting together with family and friends. In addition, over 16,000 new Australians become citizens on Australia Day.