Australia Day

Today is 'Australia Day.' It commemorates the landing of the First Fleet in Sydney Cove on January 26, 1788. The day on which Captain Arthur Phillip took formal possession of the colony of New South Wales. Australia Day is marked by civic celebrations around the country, including the Order of Australia and Australian of the Year awards for outstanding achievement.

Fireworks celebrations are held in many towns and cities around the country. The Perth Lotterywest Skyworks display is billed as the largest Australia Day celebration in the country, with more than a third of the city's population lining the river foreshore for the display.