Australia Day is on January 26 every year and marks the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 and what many see as the invasion of this continent. Across Australia there are parades, barbecues, parties and fireworks, citizenship ceremonies, protests and mixed feelings. It is a day to reflect on what it means to be Australian.
Some think we should move it to a more neutral day – Like Wattle Day on the 1st of September. What do you think? Read on below for some ideas for an Australia-themed party.
Or try something different and have an Aussie Icon's Party with a options like Edna Everage, Australian politicians, etc.
Australian Things To Do & Eat On
Try some of these quintessentially Australian foods:
You'll need a range of drinks for children and adults, alcoholic and non-alcoholic. If you're going to a public park, make sure you take plenty of water, as there aren't always clean drinking taps around.
Children: Fruit juice poppers, apple juice, fizzy drinks, water.
Lamingtons, icy poles, Anzac biscuits, pavlova, decorate a cake for Australia (or even bake a cake in the shape of Australia!).
Backyard and beach sports. Play cricket, soccer, football and gripball.
If you're looking for something to do on Australia Day in your city, see the BCL January What's On pages for each capital city and their respective states: Adelaide | Brisbane | Canberra | Darwin | Hobart | Melbourne | Perth | Sydney | If you're arranging an event, you can advertise it free on those pages.
Australian Decorations & Catering
Costumebox – originally a costume store now has an extensive party shop with decorations, tableware, party invitations, cake supplies and more, where you can shop by theme, occasion, and shop by colour.
Australian Party Costumes & Clothing
Costume Box – Thousands of fancy dress costumes, wigs, hats, accessories and masks. Most costumes dispatched within 24 hours. All costumes displayed are in stock. Browse their Australia Day section for face paints, wigs and hats with an Australian theme.
ANZAC Biscuits Tea Towel Our ANZAC Biscuits Tea Towel from KE Designs, created by a Melbourne based artist and proudly Australian made, is a wonderful tribute to our ANZAC spirit. Made from quality microfibre material, the ANZAC Tea Towel can hold up to seven times its weight, and reduces bacteria on surfaces by up to 92%. At 75cm x 50cm, it is a standard size tea towel that can perfectly erase fingerprints, smudges, watermarks and more from crockery, glassware and cutlery – keeping dishes as bright, as bright can be! We are Australia’s premium gift website for all occasions, with over 1,000 gifts to choose from. Add your personalised message for free on a personalised gift card with every order! from Gifts Australia
Australian Flag Spatula A truly essential BBQ tool for this summer and Australia Day, this spatula will leave you feeling patriotic and a little proud. Perfect for Christmas down at the public beach BBQ or under the patio at home on a stormy summer’s night. Unlike other common novelty utensils the Australian Flag Spatula features a sturdy natural wooden handle and quality stainless steel spatula for flipping. The Spatula measures at 43cm x 9cm, with a long handle to ensure minimum heat when turning snags and flipping patties. An ideal gift for dad for father’s day or as a gift under the tree at Christmas. Take advantage of our free delivery for orders over $99, simply organise all your gifts at once and have them delivered to you Australia-wide. from Gifts Australia
“Cheers Mate” Bottle Opener With Sound A gift for his bar, a gift worthy of any celebration, the "Cheers Mate" Bottle Opener With Sound is the perfect accessory to get the party started. This stainless steel bottle opener features fun phrases like 'You Beauty' so that with every drink a little bit of Aussie-slang sounds out. A great gift for Christmas for men who love a cold beer and a quirky Kris Kringle gift idea for the office, the "Cheers Mate" Bottle Opener With Sound uses 3 x AG13 Batteries (supplied). Please note that button batteries can pose a danger to children if swallowed and this product should be kept out of reach of children. from Gifts Australia
Australian Flag or CapeNylon Auatralian flag that can be worn as a cape, 90cm x 150cm. Velcro fastenings. Adult Halloween Costume Idea from Costumes.com.au
Flip Flop Thong Adult CostumePerfect funny adult costume for a beach bum! Get your partner one too and go as a pair! Includes:One (1) over the head poly-foam tunic shaped like supersized green and blue flip flop Does not include sunglasses, undershirt, pants, or shoes. One size fits most (up to 6'3″). INCLUDES ONE COSTUME ONLY. Adult Halloween Costume Idea from Costumes.com.au
Wooden Happy Koala Bobbler Wooden Happy Koala Bobbler. Wooderful Life. Add some fun to your desktop with this Wooden Happy Koala Bobbler! Featuring a cute smile and a wobbly head, your koala friend sit happily atop a log. He's been hand-crafted and painted, and makes a great Aussie souvenir for animal lovers! from Coolthings.com.au