Part 7/10:
The Significance of January 26 in Australian History
Beyond its current contentious status, January 26 holds a historical significance beyond being the date of the First Fleet’s arrival in 1788. It is also the date in 1949 when Australian citizenship was officially established, marking Australia’s emergence as a nation independent from British sovereignty. Prior to this, residents of Australia were considered British subjects, but the legislation enacted on this date asserted Australia’s unique identity.