[Editor: This article, regarding Foundation Day (Australia Day), was published in The Register (Adelaide, SA), 26 January 1910.]
Foundation Day.
Although Capt. Cook, in the Endeavour, anchored in Botany Bay on April 28, 1770, and later on formally claimed possession in the name of the British Crown of the country behind the coastline he had explored, giving to it the name of New South Wales, it was not until 18 years afterwards that the mother colony was founded.
Lord Sydney was the Minister who selected Botany Bay as a convict station, and he chose Capt. Arthur Phillip as the first Governor of the settlement. The 11 vessels containing the convicts anchored in Botany Bay on January 18, 1788, but after an examination of the country the little fleet sailed into Port Jackson, which Capt. Phillip named Sydney Cove, after Lord Sydney.
By January 26 all the ships were in this beautiful and world-famous harbour, and on this day formal possession was taken of Sydney Cove, although the proclamation of the colony and the reading of the Governor’s commission did not take place till February 7.
Foundation Day will be celebrated to-day, and South Australia will commemorate the historic event at a public gathering, to be held this evening at the Exhibition Building, to which every one is cordially invited.
The Prime Minister (Rp. Deakin), who was expected to speak, had at the last moment to send an apology. His place will be taken by the Federal Attorney-General (Rp. Glynn). After the loyal sentiments shall have been honoured, Mr. W. J. Sowden, an ex-President of the A.N.A., will submit “The Old Pioneers,” which toast will be replied to by an old colonist. Mr. R. Cruickshank, a member of the South Australian board of the association, will propose “Our Parliament.” This will be responded to by the Federal Attorney-General (Rp. Glynn), the Leader of the Opposition in the Federal Parliament (Rp. Fisher), who will arrive by the Melbourne express this morning, the Chief Secretary (Hon. J. G. Rice), and the Leader of the Opposition in the State Parliament (Mr. Verran). Sr. Sir Josiah Symon will propose “Australia,” coupled with the A.N.A., and the Chief President of the Association (Mr. H. H. Austin) will reply. Vocal items will be rendered by Messrs. Murray Barlow and T. J. H. Mitchell.
Source:
The Register (Adelaide, SA), 26 January 1910, p. 6
Editor’s notes:
A.N.A. = Australian Natives’ Association (a fraternal patriotic organisation and mutual society which was founded for the benefit of Australian-born white people; the organisation was originally established in April 1871 as the Victorian Natives’ Association, but in 1872 it extended its coverage to all of Australia)
See: “Australian Natives’ Association”, Wikipedia
Arthur Phillip = Arthur Phillip (1738-1814), an officer of the British Royal Navy, commander of the First Fleet, and the first Governor of New South Wales (1788-1792); he was born in London (England) in 1738, and died in Bath (Somerset, England) in 1814
See: 1) B. H. Fletcher, “Phillip, Arthur (1738–1814)”, Australian Dictionary of Biography
2) “Arthur Phillip”, Wikipedia
Botany Bay = a bay located to the south of the City of Sydney (New South Wales), located in the south-eastern section of Sydney’s greater metropolitan area; it was discovered in 1770 by the English explorer James Cook (1728-1779); Botany Bay was intended as the location for the first British settlement in Australia, but Governor Arthur Phillip (1738-1814) decided that the area was unsuitable, and instead founded the settlement further north, in Sydney Cove (in Sydney Harbour, Port Jackson, New South Wales), but, despite the change of location, the settlement was often referred to as “Botany Bay” for many years
See: “Botany Bay”, Wikipedia
Capt. = an abbreviation of “Captain”
Capt. Cook = James Cook (1728-1779), an officer of the British Royal Navy, explorer, and discoverer of the eastern coast of Australia (1770); he was born in Marton-in-Cleveland (Yorkshire, England) in 1728, and was killed at Kealakekua Bay, in the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii), in 1779
See: 1) “Cook, James (1728–1779)”, Australian Dictionary of Biography
2) “James Cook”, Wikipedia
Capt. Phillip = [see: Arthur Phillip]
Deakin = Alfred Deakin (1856-1919) Victorian parliamentarian 1879-1900, federal parliamentarian 1901-1913, and second Prime Minister of Australia (he served for three separate terms as Prime Minister: 1903-1904, 1905-1908, and 1909-1910); he was born in Collingwood (Melbourne, Vic.) in 1856, and died in South Yarra (Melbourne, Vic.) in 1919
See: 1) R. Norris, “Alfred Deakin (1856–1919)”, Australian Dictionary of Biography
2) “Death of Mr. Deakin: Brilliant career ends: Thrice Prime Minister”, The Herald (Melbourne, Vic.), 7 October 1919, p. 1
3) “Alfred Deakin”, Wikipedia
Endeavour = a ship of the British Royal Navy, which was under the command of James Cook when he discovered the eastern coast of Australia (1770); the ship was launched in 1764, and scuttled in 1778
See: “HMS Endeavour”, Wikipedia
Federal Parliament = the national parliament of Australia (i.e. the parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia)
Fisher = Andrew Fisher (1862-1928), federal parliamentarian (1901-1915), leader of the Labor Party (1907-1915), Prime Minister of Australia (1908-1909, 1910-1913, and 1914-1915), and High Commissioner of Australia to the United Kingdom (1916-1920); he was born in Crosshouse (Ayrshire, Scotland) in 1862, and died in London (England) in 1928
See: 1) D. J. Murphy, “Fisher, Andrew (1862–1928)”, Australian Dictionary of Biography
2) “Andrew Fisher”, Wikipedia
Foundation Day = an earlier name for Australia Day, 26 January, which celebrates the anniversary of the foundation of the British colony at Sydney, New South Wales, in 1788 (the beginning of European settlement in Australia)
Josiah Symon = Sir Josiah Symon (1846-1934), lawyer, politician, and Attorney-General of Australia (1904-1905); he was born in Wick (Caithness, Scotland) in 1846, came to Australia in 1866, and died in North Adelaide (South Australia) in 1934
See: 1) Don Wright, “Sir Josiah Henry Symon (1846–1934)”, Australian Dictionary of Biography
2) “Josiah Symon”, Wikipedia
Lord Sydney = Thomas Townshend (1733-1800), 1st Viscount Sydney, a British politician; he was born in London (England) in 1733, and died in London (England) in 1800; the city of Sydney (New South Wales) is named after him
See: 1) Andrew Tink, “Thomas (Tommy) Townshend (1733–1800)”, People Australia (Australian National University)
2) R. W. Rathbone, “Thomas Townshend, First Viscount Sydney: The man after whom our city was named”, St George Historical Society
3) “Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney”, Wikipedia
Minister = (in the context of various British Commonwealth countries, including Australia) a Minister of the Crown (including the Prime Minister); a government minister who is responsible for overseeing a government department, formulating government policy, and/or making decisions on issues affecting the country; someone who is part of the government Ministry or Cabinet
Port Jackson = (also known as Sydney Harbour) the natural harbour of Sydney (New South Wales); the settlement of Sydney (and its surrounding area) was often referred to as “Port Jackson” in earlier years
See: “Port Jackson”, Wikipedia
Rp. = an abbreviation of “Representative” (a Member of Parliament, in the House of Representatives)
[Editor: The original text has been separated into paragraphs.]
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