Officially, the Western Australia Day is celebrated on June 1 but it is on the first Monday of the month when a public holiday is observed. The day commemorates the foundation of the Swan River Colony, the first permanent British colony in Western Australia.
Western Australia Day, formerly known as the Foundation Day, is a public holiday in Western Australia. Educational institutions as well as most business units and other organisations are closed for the day. Further, there could be slight alternations in the public transportation services for the day. It must be noted that the first Monday of June is a public holiday only in Western Australia. Schools, businesses, etc in other states and territories of Australia are open, as usual.
Background
Australia’s west coast was sighted from the Parmelia, a merchant vessel on June 1, 1829. A day later, the ship reached anchor. More ships arrived gradually and the area was named the Swan River Colony. The name was changed to Western Australia in 1832. Subsequently, June 1, the anniversary of the first sighting of Western Australia from the vessel, was chosen as the date for annual celebrations. The idea was to bring together and foster better understanding among the new settlers, masters, servants and Indigenous Australians in the colony.
How Do People Celebrate?
Locals organize a wide variety of events to mark the celebratory zeal of the day. One of the major events includes a Western Australia Day breakfast hosted by the Governor of Western Australia. A host of other events and activities are also organised to celebrate the lives of the early white settlers. Lives of indigenous Australians are also in focus with many celebratory chapters highlighting the same on the Western Australia Day. WA Day Plate, a horse-racing event at Belmont Park; and the WA Citizen of the Year Award for categories like Youth, Community, Business, Arts, etc are among the most loved events of the day.
