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January 26 in Yarra

On January 26, we acknowledge the history and culture of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

January 26 is a day of mourning, pain and disconnection for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our community.

For this reason, we decided this was not an appropriate date for us to celebrate our national day.

We hope that as a nation, we can find a day that is inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

We also support the Change the Date campaign, which calls on the Australian government to change our national celebration to a date that is inclusive of all Australians.

The unanimous decision to change the way we mark January 26 was made by Yarra City Council on 15 August 2017 (read the full Council resolution).

Stay informed

Learn more online about the Aboriginal history of Yarra.
Discover the wisdom and stories of Yarra’s elders and ancestors through the Yalinguth walking tour app.
Find out more about events and news on the Celebrating Aboriginal Culture in Yarra Facebook page.

Translated information sheets

You can download information about January 26 and our decision in the following languages:

FAQs

On January 26, we acknowledge the history and culture of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

January 26 is a day of mourning, pain and disconnection for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our community.

For this reason, we decided this was not an appropriate date for us to celebrate our national day.

We hope that as a nation, we can find a day that is inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

We also support the Change the Date campaign, which calls on the Australian government to change our national celebration to a date that is inclusive of all Australians.

The unanimous decision to change the way we mark January 26 was made by Yarra City Council on 15 August 2017 (read the full Council resolution).

Stay informed

Learn more online about the Aboriginal history of Yarra.
Discover the wisdom and stories of Yarra’s elders and ancestors through the Yalinguth walking tour app.
Find out more about events and news on the Celebrating Aboriginal Culture in Yarra Facebook page.

Translated information sheets

You can download information about January 26 and our decision in the following languages:

FAQs

Why?

Why are you changing the way you mark January 26?

We are changing the focus of how we commemorate January 26 to be more inclusive of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

January 26 commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet and the planting of the Union Flag on Gadigal Country (in Port Jackson). For the Wurundjeri and many in the broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, this marks the beginning of invasion and dispossession. Celebratory events held on this anniversary intensify the sadness, pain and disconnection experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We believe our national day should be a day that can be celebrated by everyone, including our Aboriginal community.

We are changing the focus of how we commemorate January 26 to be more inclusive of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

January 26 commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet and the planting of the Union Flag on Gadigal Country (in Port Jackson). For the Wurundjeri and many in the broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, this marks the beginning of invasion and dispossession. Celebratory events held on this anniversary intensify the sadness, pain and disconnection experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We believe our national day should be a day that can be celebrated by everyone, including our Aboriginal community.

Are you against celebrating Australia?

Does this mean that you are against celebrating our national identity?

We have a lot to celebrate in this country and we believe our national day should be a day that can be enjoyed by everyone, including our Aboriginal community.

We believe we can have a more respectful celebration of this wonderful country, a celebration that is truly inclusive.

We have a lot to celebrate in this country and we believe our national day should be a day that can be enjoyed by everyone, including our Aboriginal community.

We believe we can have a more respectful celebration of this wonderful country, a celebration that is truly inclusive.

Will council staff be at work?

January 26 remains a public holiday and our customer services centres and libraries will be closed. However, household rubbish and recycling collections will take place as normal. Our leisure centres will also open (but will have amended timetables).

My public holiday

Will I lose my public holiday on January 26?

We are not seeking to take away the January 26 public holiday. We are simply marking the January 26 public holiday in a more respectful and inclusive way.

Stick to your business

Why don't you stick to "rates, roads and rubbish"?

As a council, we deliver over one hundred services to our community, and these go far beyond roads, rates and rubbish.

If we only delivered roads, rates and rubbish services, then we wouldn’t have other essential community services like delivered meals for older people, libraries, playgroups, support for people from migrant and non-English speaking backgrounds, and activities to keep young people engaged. All these programs and services are what make for a healthy and resilient community.

Since the Local Government Act 1989 (Vic) was passed 30 years ago, the role of local councils has grown to do more for local communities, including “advocating the interests of the local community to other communities and governments".

Our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community has told us that January 26 celebrations have a significant negative impact on their health and wellbeing. As a council, we have a legislative responsibility to show leadership and advocate on their behalf.

As important as our advocacy work is, we are equally committed to delivering a vast range of everyday services and programs.

As a council, we deliver over one hundred services to our community, and these go far beyond roads, rates and rubbish.

If we only delivered roads, rates and rubbish services, then we wouldn’t have other essential community services like delivered meals for older people, libraries, playgroups, support for people from migrant and non-English speaking backgrounds, and activities to keep young people engaged. All these programs and services are what make for a healthy and resilient community.

Since the Local Government Act 1989 (Vic) was passed 30 years ago, the role of local councils has grown to do more for local communities, including “advocating the interests of the local community to other communities and governments".

Our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community has told us that January 26 celebrations have a significant negative impact on their health and wellbeing. As a council, we have a legislative responsibility to show leadership and advocate on their behalf.

As important as our advocacy work is, we are equally committed to delivering a vast range of everyday services and programs.

It's a tradition

But Australia Day has always been on January 26 – it's a tradition.

Australia Day only became a national public holiday celebrated by all states and territories in 1994.

Your celebrations

Will you be cancelling Australia Day celebrations?

Our community is welcome to commemorate the day in any way they choose.

As a council, we are shifting the way we think about January 26, and acknowledging and respecting what this date represents for Aboriginal people and its significance in the history of our country.

Our community is welcome to commemorate the day in any way they choose.

As a council, we are shifting the way we think about January 26, and acknowledging and respecting what this date represents for Aboriginal people and its significance in the history of our country.

My celebrations

Can Yarra residents still celebrate January 26?

Our community is welcome to celebrate on January 26 in any way they choose.

We encourage people to reflect on the history of this date, and its effect on our Aboriginal community.