With 26 January approaching, we recognise this date as a Day of Mourning and support calls to change the date.

26 January 1788 marks the formal establishment of the first British penal colony on this continent.

For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, this date has long been recognised as a Day of Mourning. In 1938, Aboriginal leaders including William Cooper formally declared it as such — in response to the invasion, dispossession and violence experienced since colonisation.

Australia remains one of the few nations to hold its national day on the date colonisation began. If a national day is intended to unite people in celebration, it’s worth asking why it remains fixed to a date that brings grief and loss for so many. This is why First Nations communities and their allies have repeatedly called for the date to be changed. Not to erase history, but to acknowledge it honestly.

ART ON THE MOVE staff choose not to celebrate 26 January. Instead, we take this time to pause, listen and reflect. We invite others to do the same — to engage with First Nations voices, follow First Nations leadership, and reflect on our shared history and responsibilities. This work isn’t limited to one day; it is an ongoing commitment to truth-telling, solidarity, and respect for First Nations sovereignty.

---

Events:

• 24 – 25 Jan | Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre: FOCUS First Nations Films
• 26 Jan | Invasion Day Rally (Boorloo)
• 26 Jan | Rubibi Survival Day