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WESTERN AUSTRALIA DAY (WA)

When is Western Australia Day (WA) in 2024?

Western Australia Day (WA) in 2024 is on the Monday, 3rd of Jun (6/03/2024).

Western Australia Day (WA) is on the 155th day of 2024. There are 211 days left in the year.

Western Australia Day (WA) Facts

  • Date: Jun 03, 2024
  • National
  • Also Called: Foundation Day
  • Celebrations: Celebrations; festivals, shopping, barbeque, movies
Western Australia Day (WA) iImage Credit: Wikipedia

Formerly known as Foundation Day, the public holiday is celebrated in Western Australia on the first Monday in June. Western Australia Day aims at commemorating the time Swan River Colony was founded in 1829. Since this holiday falls at the same time with Queens Birthday, the state of Western Australia holds its separate celebration in September or October.

History of Western Australia Day

The first European group to land in Western Australia was the Dutch explorers who arrived in the 17th century. The French followed shortly after. However, the two groups didn’t stay long since they were not positive about the region’s potential.

In 1826, the first group of British settlers established a territory in Western Australia. A year later, the British commenced explorations along the west coast of Australia. Admiral Sir James Stirling who led the team of explorers recommended the establishment of a permanent settlement in the Swan River area.

In 1829, Sir James Stirling returned to the Swan River area with a navy vessel namely HMS Challenger and a merchant ship named Parmelia. On June 1, 1829, the merchant ship sighted the West Coast of Australia but reached the anchor the following day. Several other ships arrived in the area later in the year.

In 1832, the Swan River Colony was renamed Western Australia, and Stirling became the administrator.

In 1834, Sir James decided to unite all the settlers, masters, servants and the native Australians within the colony by holding an annual celebration. June 1st was chosen since it coincided with the first sighting of the west coast from Parmelia. The date also marked an important victory by the Britons over the French in 1794. The holiday was given the name Foundation Day.

In April 2012, the holiday’s name was changed to Western Australia Day to recognize the history of the native Aboriginal people of the land.

How to Celebrate Western Australia Day

The long Western Australia Day weekend is full of activities. The celebrations kick off on Friday night with the Western Australian of the Year Awards. The event aims at recognizing the individuals who have not only excelled in their fields but also brought positive change to the Western Australian community.

There are seven recognized award categories namely Business, Community, Aboriginal, Arts& Culture, Professions, Sport and Youth. The overall winner is usually selected from one of the categories. So, prepare to attend the awards or nominate someone that you feel deserves recognition.

Another great way to mark the holiday would be attending the Western Australian festival events. The festivals are free to the public, and they are held in the metropolitan and regional areas of the state.

You can also visit the Swan Bell Tower in Perth. The tower provides a perfect view of the Swan River and the city of Perth. Boasting of a set of 18 hanging bells the tower stands at 82.5 meters making it the largest musical instrument on earth.

Since the holiday falls in winter, you can host a barbecue with friends and family as you chase the cold away.

If you are indoors all day long, plan to watch a documentary about the British Empire and colonization in Australia. Some of the popular titles include The Story of India and Empire and British Empire in Colour.

Western Australia Day is also a good time to go shopping. Most of the retail stores usually run weeklong offers and discounts. It is, therefore, a perfect opportunity to buy your family that household item you had promised them.

Be sure to wish your friends a happy Western Australia Day on social media using the hashtag #WesternAustraliaDay.

Facts about Western Australia

• Of all the states in Australia, Western Australia is the largest. It occupies a third of the entire country

• Western Australia produces approximately 70% of all the gold mined in Australia,

• Western Australia supplies the most seafood in the world. Among them are lobsters, pearls and lobsters.

• The first person to explore Swan River was a Dutchman named Willem De Vlamingh. Willem discovered the river in 1697 and named it after its numerous black swans.

• Perth is the world’s most isolated city with Adelaide being the closest at over 2000 km away.

• Singapore and Jakarta are closer to Perth than to Canberra.

• West Australia’s coastline is more than 12,500km long

• Western Australia has the longest stretch of straight railway in the world

• The biggest park in the world is King’s Park located in Perth

Western Australia Day (WA) Observances

DAY
DATE
HOLIDAY NAME

List of National and Regional Public Holidays of Australia in 2023

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
SundaySunJan 01, 2023Jan 01New Year's Day
MondayMonJan 02, 2023Jan 02New Year's Day Holiday
ThursdayThuJan 26, 2023Jan 26Australia Day
MondayMonMar 06, 2023Mar 06Labour Day (WA)
MondayMonMar 13, 2023Mar 13Labour Day (VIC)
MondayMonMar 13, 2023Mar 13Eight Hours Day (TAS)
MondayMonMar 13, 2023Mar 13Canberra Day (ACT)
FridayFriApr 07, 2023Apr 07Good Friday
SundaySunApr 09, 2023Apr 09Easter Sunday
MondayMonApr 10, 2023Apr 10Easter Monday
TuesdayTueApr 25, 2023Apr 25Anzac Day
MondayMonMay 01, 2023May 01May Day (NT)
MondayMonJun 05, 2023Jun 05Western Australia Day (WA)
MondayMonJun 12, 2023Jun 12King's Birthday (Most region)
MondayMonAug 07, 2023Aug 07Picnic Day (NT)
MondayMonSep 25, 2023Sep 25King's Birthday (WA)
MondayMonOct 02, 2023Oct 02King's Birthday (QLD)
MondayMonOct 02, 2023Oct 02Labour Day (Most Region)
MondayMonDec 25, 2023Dec 25Christmas Day
TuesdayTueDec 26, 2023Dec 26Boxing Day
SundaySunDec 31, 2023Dec 31New Year's Eve

List of Popular Celebration Days of United States in 2023

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
ThursdayThuJan 12, 2023Jan 12National Pharmacists Day
ThursdayThuJan 19, 2023Jan 19National Popcorn Day
WednesdayWedFeb 01, 2023Feb 01National Signing Day
ThursdayThuFeb 02, 2023Feb 02Groundhog Day
FridayFriFeb 03, 2023Feb 03National Wear Red Day
ThursdayThuFeb 09, 2023Feb 09National Pizza Day
MondayMonFeb 13, 2023Feb 13Galentine's Day
TuesdayTueFeb 14, 2023Feb 14Valentine's Day
WednesdayWedFeb 15, 2023Feb 15National Bagel Day
SaturdaySatFeb 18, 2023Feb 18National Drink Wine Day
TuesdayTueFeb 21, 2023Feb 21National Pancake Day
WednesdayWedFeb 22, 2023Feb 22National Margarita Day
FridayFriMar 03, 2023Mar 03National Employee Appreciation Day
TuesdayTueMar 07, 2023Mar 07National Cereal Day
SundaySunMar 12, 2023Mar 12Daylight savings
MondayMonMar 13, 2023Mar 13National Napping Day
TuesdayTueMar 14, 2023Mar 14National Walkout Day
TuesdayTueMar 14, 2023Mar 14National Pi Day
MondayMonMar 20, 2023Mar 20National Proposal Day
ThursdayThuMar 23, 2023Mar 23National Puppy Day
ThursdayThuMar 30, 2023Mar 30National Doctor Day
WednesdayWedApr 05, 2023Apr 05National Walking Day
ThursdayThuApr 06, 2023Apr 06National Burrito Day
FridayFriApr 07, 2023Apr 07National Beer Day
TuesdayTueApr 11, 2023Apr 11National Pet Day
WednesdayWedApr 12, 2023Apr 12National Grilled Cheese Day
ThursdayThuMay 04, 2023May 04National Day Of Prayer
SundaySunMay 14, 2023May 14Mother's Day
ThursdayThuMay 25, 2023May 25National Towel Day
ThursdayThuMay 25, 2023May 25National Wine Day
FridayFriJun 02, 2023Jun 02National Donut Day
ThursdayThuJun 08, 2023Jun 08National Best Friends Day
SundaySunJun 18, 2023Jun 18Father's Day
WednesdayWedJun 21, 2023Jun 21National Selfie Day
ThursdayThuJun 22, 2023Jun 22National Kissing Day
TuesdayTueJul 11, 2023Jul 11Amazon Prime Day
ThursdayThuJul 13, 2023Jul 13National French Fry Day
FridayFriJul 14, 2023Jul 14National Nude Day
SundaySunJul 16, 2023Jul 16National Ice Cream Day
WednesdayWedJul 19, 2023Jul 19National Hot Dog Day
MondayMonJul 24, 2023Jul 24National Tequila Day
SaturdaySatJul 29, 2023Jul 29National Chicken Wing Day
TuesdayTueAug 01, 2023Aug 01National Girlfriends Day
SundaySunAug 06, 2023Aug 06National Sister Day
MondayMonSep 18, 2023Sep 18National Cheeseburger Day
TuesdayTueOct 03, 2023Oct 03National Boyfriends Day
WednesdayWedOct 04, 2023Oct 04National Vodka Day
WednesdayWedOct 04, 2023Oct 04National Taco Day
MondayMonOct 09, 2023Oct 09Leif Erikson Day
SaturdaySatOct 21, 2023Oct 21Sweetest Day
SundaySunOct 29, 2023Oct 29National Cat Day
TuesdayTueOct 31, 2023Oct 31Halloween
FridayFriNov 03, 2023Nov 03National Sandwich Day
FridayFriNov 24, 2023Nov 24Black Friday
MondayMonNov 27, 2023Nov 27Cyber Monday
SaturdaySatDec 02, 2023Dec 02Candle Day
SaturdaySatDec 09, 2023Dec 09National Pastry Day
FridayFriDec 15, 2023Dec 15National Ugly Sweater day