View source for Proclamation Day

{{short description|Public holiday in Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
'''Proclamation Day''' commonly refers to the anniversary of the proclamation of government of the [[colony of South Australia|province of South Australia]], which continues to be celebrated in [[South Australia]] on 28 December, although no longer a public holiday. The anniversary of the establishment of self-government on 21 October 1890 was formerly known as Proclamation Day in [[Western Australia]].

== South Australia ==
[[File:Charles Hill - The Proclamation of South Australia 1836 - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|300px|Charles Hill, ''The Proclamation of South Australia, 1836'' (1856), [[Art Gallery of South Australia]]]]
{{Wikisource|Proclamation of South Australia}}
{{further|British colonisation of South Australia}}
===Background===
Proclamation Day in South Australia celebrates the establishment of government in the [[colony of South Australia]] as a British [[province]]. The province itself was officially created and proclaimed in 1834 when the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|British Parliament]] passed the [[South Australia Act 1834]], which empowered [[William IV of the United Kingdom|King William IV]] to create South Australia as a British province and to provide for its colonisation and government. It was ratified 19 February 1836 when King William issued [[Letters Patent establishing the Province of South Australia|Letters Patent establishing the province]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last1=Anderson|first1=Margaret|url=http://adelaidia.sa.gov.au/subjects/the-proclamation|website=Adelaidia|title=The Proclamation |date=9 June 2017 |publisher=HistorySA|access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref> The proclamation announcing the establishment of Government was made by Captain [[John Hindmarsh]] beside [[The Old Gum Tree]] at the present-day suburb of [[Glenelg North, South Australia|Glenelg North]] on 28 December 1836. The proclamation specified the same protection under the law for the local [[Australian Aborigine|native]] population as for the settlers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://adelaidia.sa.gov.au/subjects/the-proclamation|title=The Proclamation |last=Anderson| first=Margaret| website=Adelaidia, HistorySA |date=9 June 2017 |access-date=29 Dec 2018}}</ref>

The proclamation was drafted aboard {{HMS|Buffalo|1813|2}} by Hindmarsh's private secretary, George Stevenson, and printed by [[Robert Thomas (newspaper proprietor)|Robert Thomas]] (1782–1860), who came from England with his family on {{ship||Africaine|1832 ship|2}}, arriving at [[Holdfast Bay]] on 8 November 1836.  Thomas brought with him the first printing press to reach South Australia. The press was a Stanhope Invenit No. 200,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://migration.history.sa.gov.au/collections/historical-relics-collection/stanhope-press |title=Stanhope Press |work=Migration Museum |publisher=[[Government of South Australia]] |access-date=21 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222100313/http://migration.history.sa.gov.au/collections/historical-relics-collection/stanhope-press |archive-date=22 December 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was on display in the [[State Library of South Australia|State Library]] until 2001.{{cn|date=August 2023}}

It was signed by the [[Secretary of State for the Colonies|Colonial Secretary]], [[Robert Gouger]], who had also travelled on the ''Africaine''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/gouger-robert-2109|title= Gouger, Robert (1802–1846)]| work=[[Australian Dictionary of Biography]], Volume 1|publisher=[[Melbourne University Press]]|date=1966|pages=461–463}}</ref>

The [[First Fleet of South Australia|colonising fleet]] prior to ''Buffalo'' consisted of eight vessels which had first arrived at [[Nepean Bay]] on [[Kangaroo Island]] before being directed to [[Holdfast Bay]] on the mainland.  The first vessel to arrive at Nepean Bay was ''Duke of York'' on 27 July 1836 which did not proceed to Holdfast Bay but instead set off on a whaling expedition.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Heinrich|first1=Dorothy |title=The Man Who Hunted Whales |date=2011 |publisher=Awoonga |isbn=9780646553009 |page=38}}</ref> ''Africaine''<ref>[http://boundforsouthaustralia.com.au/journey-content/africaine.html ''Africaine''], Bound for South Australia<br>[https://www.geni.com/projects/Africaine-Barque-Colonists-to-South-Australia-in-1836/30876 ''Africaine'' (Barque ) – Colonists to South Australia in 1836], Geni.com</ref> was the seventh to arrive at Nepean Bay (4 Nov 1836), discharging settlers at Holdfast Bay on 9 November 1836.  Seven of these earlier ships preceded Governor John Hindmarsh on ''Buffalo'' to enable preparations in advance of his formal arrival on 28 December.{{cn|date=December 2020}} Thomas's wife [[Mary Thomas (poet)|Mary]] (1787–1875) published ''The Diary of Mary Thomas'', in which she described the journey on ''Africaine'' and the early years in South Australia.  An extract from the diary reads: "About December 20th 1836, we built a rush hut a short distance from our tents for the better accommodation of part of our family... and in this place (about 12 feet square) the first printing in South Australia was produced".<ref>{{Citation |title=Diary of Mary Thomas |date=1836 |first=Mary |last=Thomas}}</ref>

==== Text of the Proclamation  ====
<blockquote>By His Excellency John Hindmarsh, Knight of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty’s Province of South Australia.

In announcing to the Colonists of His Majesty’s Province of South Australia, the establishment of the Government, I hereby call upon them to conduct themselves on all occasions with order and quietness, duly to respect the laws, and by a course of industry and sobriety, by the practice of sound morality and a strict observance of the Ordinances of Religion, to prove themselves worthy to be the Founders of a great and free Colony.

It is also, at this time especially, my duty to apprize the Colonists of my resolution, to take every lawful means for extending the same protection to the Native Population as to the rest of His Majesty’s Subjects and of my firm determination to punish with exemplary severity, all acts of violence or injustice which may in any manner be practiced or attempted against the Natives who are to be considered as much under the Safeguard of the law as the Colonists themselves, and equally entitled to the privileges of British Subjects. I trust therefore, with confidence to the exercise of moderation and forbearance by all Classes, in their intercourse with the Native Inhabitants, and that they will omit no opportunity of assisting me to fulfil His Majesty’s most gracious and benevolent intentions toward them, by promoting their advancement in civilization, and ultimately, under the blessing of Divine Providence, their conversion to the Christian Faith.

By His Excellency’s Command,<br>
Robert Gouger,<br>
Colonial Secretary.<br>
Glenelg, 28th December 1836.<br>

God Save the King.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>

===Status as a holiday===
In 1876 Parliament decreed that the Proclamation Day holiday, a gala occasion when thousands descended on [[Glenelg, South Australia|Glenelg]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article40472797 |title=Anniversary of the Colony |newspaper=[[South Australian Register]] |volume=XLII |issue=9711 |location=South Australia |date=29 December 1877 |access-date=24 March 2018 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> would henceforth be celebrated on 27 December in lieu of the 28th, in order to make a three-day Christmas holiday. [[Henry J. Moseley]], proprietor of the Glenelg's [[Pier Hotel, Glenelg| Pier Hotel]], was the first and loudest protester against the move,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77487714 |title=Our Adelaide Letter |newspaper=[[The Border Watch]] |volume=XVI |issue=1371 |location=South Australia |date=23 December 1876 |access-date=24 March 2018 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> which was rescinded.{{cn|date=December 2020}}

The Proclamation Day [[Public holidays in Australia|public holiday]] is prescribed in the South Australian ''Holidays Act, 1910''.<ref>{{Citation|title=South Australian Legislation|url=https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/C/A/HOLIDAYS%20ACT%201910.aspx|publisher=South Australian Attorney-General's Department|language=en-au|access-date=2020-12-25}}</ref> Originally the Act provided that the day was to be observed on 28 December, except when that day occurred on a Saturday or Sunday, at which times it was to be celebrated on the following Monday. On 4 November 1993,<ref>{{Cite web|title=South Australian Government Gazette, 4 November 1993 p 2168|url=https://www8.austlii.edu.au/au/other/sa_gazette/1993/109/2168.pdf}}</ref> the ''Holidays Act 1910'' was amended by the ''Holidays (Proclamation Day, Australia Day and Bank Holidays) Amendment Act 1993'',<ref>{{Citation|title=Holidays (Proclamation Day, Australia Day and Bank Holidays) Amendment Act (No 88 of 1993)|url=https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdb/au/legis/sa/num_act/hdadabhaa88o1993629/|access-date=2020-12-25}}</ref> changing the date for observance of the day to the day following the [[Christmas Day]] holiday, to coincide with [[Boxing Day]] as celebrated in other states. The change was made primarily as a response to the recommendations of the South Australian Industrial Relations Advisory Council, which had advised that the holiday should be changed to avoid stop/start work patterns, particularly in the retail industry.<ref>{{Cite web|title=South Australia, Parliamentary Debates, Legislative Council, 19 October 1993, p 662 (Barbara Wiese, Minister of Transport Development)|url=http://hansardpublic.parliament.sa.gov.au/_layouts/15/Hansard/DownloadHansardFile.ashx?t=historicpdf&d=HANSARD-4-1546}}</ref> The change was also said to be consistent with national uniformity arrangements in relation to certain public holidays.<ref>{{Cite web|title=South Australia, Parliamentary Debates, Legislative Council, 19 October 1993, p 662 (Barbara Wiese, Minister of Transport Development)|url=http://hansardpublic.parliament.sa.gov.au/_layouts/15/Hansard/DownloadHansardFile.ashx?t=historicpdf&d=HANSARD-4-1546}}</ref>

Formal ceremonies involving the most senior current officials and politicians, followed by public celebrations, continue to be held at the still-extant [[Old Gum Tree]] at Glenelg North on 28 December,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ashley |first1=Walsh |title=More area for South Australia's birthplace |url=https://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2013/12/06/3906325.htm |access-date=27 December 2020 |work=ABC NEws |date=7 December 2013}}</ref><ref name=smith2015>{{cite web | last=Smith | first=Douglas | last2=Lim | first2=Josephine | last3=Gailberger | first3=Jade | title=What's Proclamation Day for, anyway? | website= [[Adelaide Now]] | date=27 December 2015 | url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/proclamation-day-almost-forgotten-and-many-south-australians-dont-know-why-we-have-a-public-holiday-for-it/news-story/0f74621b766bfb775255162bbbce056a | access-date=17 August 2023}}</ref> or one day earlier on 27 December in some years.<ref>{{cite news |last1=James |first1=Hancock |title=Governor talks up early settlers' resilience to motivate South Australians |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-28/sa-governor-hieu-van-le-talks-early-settlers-on-proclamation-day/7056576 |access-date=27 December 2020 |work=ABC News |date=28 December 2015 |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Proclamation Day celebrated at Glenelg as storms reduce crowds |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-28/proclamation-day-for-south-australia-celebrated-at-glenelg/8150866 |access-date=27 December 2020 |work=ABC News |date=28 December 2016 |language=en-AU}}</ref> However, a small 2015 poll indicated that many South Australians did not know why Proclamation Day was commemorated, and it was not included in the school curriculum.<ref name=smith2015/>

==Western Australia==
Proclamation Day also refers to 21 October 1890, the day that [[Western Australia]] achieved [[responsible government|self-government]], with its own constitution and self-elected [[Parliament of Western Australia|parliament]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constitutionalcentre.wa.gov.au/ResearchAndSeminarPapers/LaunchingTheShip/Pages/ProclamationDay.aspx|title=Proclamation Day|publisher=Government of Western Australia|date=11 June 2015|access-date=21 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029211952/https://www.constitutionalcentre.wa.gov.au/ResearchAndSeminarPapers/LaunchingTheShip/Pages/ProclamationDay.aspx|archive-date=29 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Court/1996/10/Celebration-of-WA-Proclamation-Day-events.aspx|title=Celebration of WA Proclamation Day events|publisher=Government of Western Australia|date=18 October 1996|access-date=21 October 2017|archive-date=23 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023010655/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Court/1996/10/Celebration-of-WA-Proclamation-Day-events.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Western Australia. Department of the Premier and Cabinet | author2=Constitutional Centre of Western Australia | author3=Constitutional Centre of Western Australia | author4=Western Australia. Dept. of the Premier and Cabinet | title=Western Australia Proclamation Day | date=2002 | publisher=Constitutional Centre of Western Australia | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/17034383 | access-date=22 October 2017 }}</ref> Proclamation Day was originally a public holiday, but its significance was overshadowed by the celebrations of the [[Eight-hour day#Australia|Eight Hours Day]], which were held on the same day, and by 1919 the public holiday had been replaced by [[Labour Day#Australia|Labour Day]].<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.celebratewa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/our-western-land-1829-to-1890.pdf|title=Our Western Land : Foundation Day 1 June 1829 to Proclamation Day 21 October 1890|publisher=Celebrate WA|author=Ruth Marchant James|access-date=21 October 2017}}</ref>

[[Western Australia Day]] is celebrated on the first Monday in June each year to commemorate the founding of the [[Swan River Colony]] in 1829.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/labour-relations/public-holidays-western-australia |title=Public holidays in Western Australia|publisher=Government of Western Australia}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Proclamation Day of the Republic of Latvia]] 

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Cite web |url=http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/scan.asp?sID=981 |title=Letters Patent establishing the Province of South Australia 19 February 1836 (UK) |date=1835 |publisher=Museum of Australian Democracy |author=Privy Council of the United Kingdom |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080125035104/http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/scan.asp?sID=981 |archive-date=25 January 2008 }} ([http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/resources/transcripts/sa2_doc_1836.pdf transcript])

{{Public holidays in Australia}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Public holidays in Australia]]
[[Category:1890s in South Australia]]
[[Category:History of Western Australia]]
[[Category:October observances]]
[[Category:December observances]]
[[Category:Proclamations]]
[[Category:1890 establishments in Australia]]