The flag raised was the Queen Anne Jack or Union Flag. At the time only England and Scotland were represented on the flag – no Ireland. Ireland was added to the Union Jack in 1801. In 1922 after an uprising, Ireland became the republic of Eyre. The red cross of St Patrick on the Union Jack now represents Northern Ireland only.

Captain Phillip did not become Governor of NSW until February 7, 1788 when the formal proclamation of the colony and Arthur Phillip’s governorship was read out.

Australia was originally named Foundation Day or Anniversary Day, after Captain Matthew Flinders named it Terra Australis while he was imprisoned on his journey home on December 17, 1803 until June 1810, seven years on the French island of Mauritius. He was thought to be a spy. The passport he carried was the Investigator but he called at the island for urgent repairs and supplies aboard Cumberland.

It was while he was under arrest on Mauritius in 1804 that he first used the name Australia as a geographical name.

A note in his letterbook on August 25, 1801 reads: I call the whole island Australia or Terra Australis and that was the title he gave his general chart that year.

Throughout his detention, Flinders kept a record of his life on the island, “Matthew Flinders’ private journal 1803-1814”. He mentions Australia at regular intervals between 1805 and 1808.

Trim disappeared on Maurtius (probably into a coking pot). He had been Matthew Flinders’ feline friend since 1794 and was the first feline to circumnavigate the whole of Australia.

Deliverance came suddenly in June 1810. Flinders was released and pardoned. He was back home in England by late October, 1810.

Flinders was promoted to post captain, he finished writing a narrative “A Voyage to Terra Australis” which was published in 1814 and contained 1100 pages.

He became gravely ill by May, 1814.

The charts including a general chart of Terra Australis or Australia were published before he died. The first copies of his book were delivered to his bedside. By this time he was in a coma and his wife Anne put the book on his chest under his hands. He died the next day, July 19, 1814, just 40 years of age.

He was a great explorer and founder of Australia.

Lachlan Macquarie, governor of NSW, was aware of the title of the 1814 chart of Matthew Flinders and seized upon Australia as an alternative name for New South Wales. He officially requested its use on December 21, 1817. Australia appears to have gradually been used in Britain from the late 1820s.

So Commander Matthew Flinders officially named Australia, the name he first chose in 1804.

At first January 26 was known as Anniversary Day or Foundation Day and did not become know as Australia Day until over a century later.

The first recorded celebration was in 1808, the first officially was at the forming of New South Wales and was held in 1818 during Governor Macquarie’s governorship.

On New Year’s Day 1901, the British colonies of Australia formed a Federation marking the birth of modern Australia.

A national day of unity and celebration was looked for but it was not until 1935 that all Australian states and territories had adopted the use of the term Australia Day and it was not until 1994 that the date January 26 was consistently marked by a public holiday.

At first, if this date fell during a weekend, the holiday was celebrated on the following Monday.

Australia Day is now celebrated on the actual day January 26 falls.