Photos

This is the Manly Ferry arriving at Circular Quay Sydney, very near to the spot where, on 26 of January 1788, the first British Fleet landed in Australia. The Fleet, commanded by Captain Arthur Phillip, consisted of 11 ships carrying convicts from Britain’s overcrowded jails, to found a new colony on the shores of Australia.
The 1373 people, landed in Sydney Cove that day, consisted of: 14 Officials and passengers; 305 Ship’s Crew; 245 Marines; 54 Marines Wives and Children
543 Male convicts: 189: Female convicts, and 22 Convict Children.
The first man ashore was a burglar from Cornwall, James Ruse. He was given land to farm and raised the first crop of wheat in Australia. He died in Campbeltown in 1837. He composed his own gravestone, which reads...

Sacred to the memory of James Ruse who departed this life September 5 in the year of Houre Lord 1837. Natef of Cornwell and arrived in this colony by the First Fleet, aged 77.

My mother reread thy tenderly
With me she took much pain
And when I arrived in this colony I sowed the first grains
And now with my heavenly father I hope for ever to remain."

Today January 26 is celebrated across the land as the National Day. There will be precessions, parties and events to mark to day. In recent years, with the arrival of immigrants from every part of the world Australia has become a truly multicultural country.

Naturally, many Aboriginal Australian’s do not celebrate the day, regarding it as Invasion Day. But I hope most Ozzies in the Lucky Country have a great day today