Founding Day in Australia

Swan River, or Swan River, is a symbol of Western Australia today.Founding Day is an official annual holiday in 1/3 of Australia. That is how much occupies the largest state of the country Western Australia, especially famous for the fact that the only one does not switch to summer and winter time. The latter fact invariably causes ridicule of neighbors.

Western Australians are very sensitive to their history. They know their roots more than anyone. Just because they have Foundation Day.

On June 1, 1829, the first settlers of the west coast completed their long journey from Britain to the Green Continent, to a colony on the Swan River. They arrived on the ship Parmelia under the command of Captain James Stirling. A strong wind for several days did not allow travelers to set foot on shore, and they explored their new land in the waters. And although officially they landed later, June 1 became the Foundation Day for residents of the western part of the country. In the same year, the largest city in the state (the fourth most populous in Australia) was founded - Perth. Australians celebrate Foundation Day on the first Monday in June to extend the weekend.

Another aspect of the Foundation Day celebration is the symbolic meeting of two cultures: ancient, pagan, which the southern land has nurtured for tens of thousands of years, and relatively new and so far from these places. Over the years, the first visitors were added to the seekers of their “promised land” from all corners of the globe. The first settlers of the state were the English and Irish. However, very soon the Italians and Greeks reached the coast. In the middle of the last century, Germans, Dutch, Croats and Macedonians began to settle on the west coast of Australia. The next wave is Southeast Asia and South Africa.

Each group of settlers added something to their centuries-old heritage and contributed to creating a unique, vibrant West Australian culture. Western Australia today is almost 2 million people of 200 nationalities, speaking 170 languages and professing almost 100 religions. On Foundation Day, Australians pay tribute to those who came to this land before them. Thank you to those who live and work today to build an even better future. State Resident of the Year, Western Australia’s most honorable award, is awarded on Foundation Day. And in the state government building, a large Foundation Day Ball is held, which is headed by the governor himself.

A day of national pride for all those who call Western Australia home is not complete without festive concerts, cannon salutes, meetings with veterans, art and cultural exhibitions.