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Australia
Australia Day is held every year on 26 January, the anniversary of the First Fleet's arrival at Sydney Cove in 1788. In the UK it isn't a holiday, but Australians here mark it with barbecues, pub gatherings and get-togethers, usually on the nearest weekend. For decorations, the Australian national flag is the centrepiece, backed up by bunting, table flags and hand flags in the same design.
What Australia Day marks
On 26 January 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip raised the British flag at Sydney Cove after the First Fleet sailed in from Britain. The date was celebrated in New South Wales from the early 1800s and became a national public holiday across every Australian state and territory in 1994. Today it's the day for citizenship ceremonies, the Australian of the Year awards and community events across the country.
It's worth knowing that the date means different things to different Australians. For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, 26 January marks the beginning of colonisation, and some call it Invasion Day or Survival Day. You'll find a mix of celebration and reflection in Australia on the day, and an Australian guest at your party may well feel either way, or both.
The Australian flag explained
The Australian flag has three parts, each with a meaning:
- The Union Flag in the upper hoist, showing Australia's historical links with Britain. Our guide to countries with the Union Jack on their flag covers Australia and the others.
- The Commonwealth Star under the Union Flag. It has seven points: one for each of the six states and one for the territories.
- The Southern Cross on the fly side, a constellation visible from the southern hemisphere, shown as five white stars.
Australia also has two other official flags. The Aboriginal flag (black, red and yellow) and the Torres Strait Islander flag (green, blue and black with a white headdress) were proclaimed flags of Australia in 1995. We stock the Torres Strait Islands flag. You'll often see all three flown together at official buildings in Australia.
Don't confuse the national flag with the Australian Red Ensign, which has the same design on a red field. It's the flag for Australian merchant ships and is popular with collectors and some expats, but the blue flag is the one for Australia Day.
Which flags to use for an Australia Day party
| Where | What works | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Outside a pub or on a garden pole | 5ft x 3ft Australian flag | Suits most wall-mounted and telescopic poles. See what size flag for your flagpole. |
| Behind the bar or on a wall | 3ft x 2ft or 5ft x 3ft flag | Hang it with the Union Flag in the top left as you look at it. |
| Along the bar, beer garden or fence | Australian bunting | Rectangular bunting comes in 3m and 9m lengths. Measure the run and add a little for the drop. |
| Tables and the buffet | Australian table flags | One per table, or alternate with Union Jacks if it's a mixed crowd. |
| Guests, kids, photos | Australian hand flags | 9in x 6in for children, 18in x 12in for waving. |
Australia Day party ideas in the UK
In Australia, 26 January is high summer and the classic Australia Day is a barbecue, a beach and a cricket match on the radio. In the UK in January it's probably cold, dark and wet, so most expat events move indoors:
- Pub and club nights. Australian-themed bars, rugby and cricket clubs and expat groups often host an evening on the day or the weekend nearest to it. The Australian Open tennis is usually in its second week around this time, which gives you something to put on the screens.
- An indoor "barbie". Sausage sizzle, meat pies, lamingtons, pavlova and Tim Tams. Play a mix of Australian music from the 1970s to today.
- A quiz. State capitals, Australian slang, famous Aussies and the flag's details make good rounds.
- Combine flags thoughtfully. If you're flying the Australian flag alongside the Union Flag, use poles of the same height and give the Union Flag the position of honour on UK soil. See our guide to flag order of precedence.
Australians in the UK also gather on 25 April for Anzac Day, which is a commemoration rather than a party. Our Anzac Day guide explains the services and the half-mast custom. The same Australian flags will serve both days, and a DuraFlag version will last longer if it's going to fly outdoors for weeks.
| Year | 26 January falls on |
|---|---|
| 2027 | Tuesday |
| 2028 | Wednesday (also Lunar New Year) |
Frequently asked questions
Is Australia Day a holiday in the UK?
No. It's a public holiday in Australia, but an ordinary working day in the UK, which is why most British celebrations happen on the nearest weekend.
Why does the Australian flag have the Union Jack on it?
It reflects Australia's history as a group of British colonies, which federated in 1901. The design was chosen in a public competition held that year.
What do the stars on the Australian flag mean?
The large seven-pointed Commonwealth Star represents the six states and the territories. The five smaller stars form the Southern Cross constellation.
What is the difference between the Australian and New Zealand flags?
Both have the Union Flag and the Southern Cross on blue. Australia's has white stars and a large Commonwealth Star; New Zealand's has four red stars with white borders and no Commonwealth Star.
For national flags, ensigns, state flags and more, browse our full range of Australian flags, or see all our world flags if your party has guests from across the Commonwealth.
