The Daily Aus The history of January 26
6 snips
Jan 25, 2026 A concise deep dive into why January 26 was chosen and its ties to British colonisation in 1788. Short readings of first‑hand landing accounts bring the past to life. The discussion covers violent frontier conflicts and landmark protests like the 1938 Day of Mourning. It also traces how the date became a national holiday and how Australians mark it today.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Why Australia Day Is On Jan 26
- Australia Day marks the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet and start of British colonisation on Gadigal land.
- Lucy Tassell explains the date became a national public holiday only recently, reflecting contested history.
Violence Marked Early Colonisation
- The Frontier Wars began with colonisation and included massacres like Waterloo Creek on Jan 26, 1838.
- Lucy Tassell notes these conflicts decimated up to 90% of the pre-colonisation population and left lasting trauma.
1938 Reenactment Traumatized Performers
- In 1938 Sydney staged a First Fleet reenactment using First Nations men driven from Menindee to perform.
- Descendants reported the men were traumatised by being paraded in that colonial spectacle, Lucy Tassell says.
