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Let's Celebrate Australia Day! Quiz

Australia's 'National Day' is 26 January and the typical Aussie will probably celebrate with a family BBQ, beer and backyard cricket! However, what do you know about this special 'Down Under Day'? Try this quick quiz!

A multiple-choice quiz by Engadine. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Engadine

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
112,172

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1587

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. When were the first recorded 'Australia Day' celebrations held? Hint

1848

1828

1808

1888

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which Australian Governor held the first 'official' Australia Day celebrations? Hint

John Macarthur

Arthur Phillip

Lachlan Macquarie

William 'Bounty' Bligh

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Question 3 of 10

3. What was the name given to 'Australia Day' in the early part of the nineteenth century? Hint

Empire Day

Australia Day

Foundation Day

Colonisation Day

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which colony first declared 'Australia Day' as a public holiday and in what year? Hint

Victoria in 1848

New South Wales in 1838

Queensland in 1888

Western Australia in 1840

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Question 5 of 10

5. Three years before the 150th anniversary of 'Australia Day', which state did not officially adopt the name 'Australia Day' for the national day? Hint

Victoria

New South Wales

South Australia

Tasmania

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Question 6 of 10

6. What did the Aboriginal population of Australia declare on 'Australia Day' 1988? Hint

A Year of Despair

A Year of Mourning

A Year of Celebration

A Year of Forgiveness

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Question 7 of 10

7. Who was named the first 'Australian of the Year'? Hint

Lionel Rose

John Yu

Sir Gustav Nossal

Sir Macfarlane Burnet

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which of the following are included in the ingredients list for a basic 'damper'? Hint

Self raising flour, milk and salt

Riceflour, milk and eggs

Cornflour, water and sugar

Soya flour, water and butter

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Question 9 of 10

9. Who was 'Australian of the Year' in 2002? Hint

Ian Thorpe

Cathy Freeman

Shane Warne

Patrick Rafter

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Question 10 of 10

10. What 'new event' was launched at Sydney Harbour for 'Australia Day' 2003? Hint

Tall Ships Display

Fireworks Display

Surfboard Challenge

Yachting Regatta

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When were the first recorded 'Australia Day' celebrations held?

Answer: 1808

26 January 1808 marked twenty years since Captain Arthur Phillip had raised the British flag at Sydney Cove claiming Australia for the Poms - and the Aussies have been beating them at cricket ever since, well, almost!

2. Which Australian Governor held the first 'official' Australia Day celebrations?

Answer: Lachlan Macquarie

26 January 1818 marked thirty years of European settlement in the 'colony' and Governor Lachlan Macquarie organised the first 'official' 'Australia Day' celebrations which included a thirty gun salute and a dinner at Government House followed by a ball.

3. What was the name given to 'Australia Day' in the early part of the nineteenth century?

Answer: Foundation Day

During this stage of Australia's history, 'Foundation Day' was usually marked by sporting events including horse and boat racing.

4. Which colony first declared 'Australia Day' as a public holiday and in what year?

Answer: New South Wales in 1838

On the fiftieth anniversary of the landing at Sydney Cove 'Australia Day' became a public holiday in the colony of New South Wales. By 1888 nearly all the 'colonial' capital cities had proclaimed a public holiday to celebrate 'Australia Day'.

5. Three years before the 150th anniversary of 'Australia Day', which state did not officially adopt the name 'Australia Day' for the national day?

Answer: New South Wales

'Anniversary Day' was the official name for 'Australia Day' in New South Wales, until the mid 1940's when all the States and the Territories adopted 'Australia Day' as the official name for Australia's national day and agreed on 26 January as the proper day to celebrate.

6. What did the Aboriginal population of Australia declare on 'Australia Day' 1988?

Answer: A Year of Mourning

In 1938 a 'Day of Mourning' conference had been held on 26 January trying to gain citizenship and equal rights for Australian Aborigines and in 1988, fifty years later, a 'Year of Mourning' was declared.

7. Who was named the first 'Australian of the Year'?

Answer: Sir Macfarlane Burnet

Sir Macfarlane Burnet was awarded the Nobel prize for physics in 1960 and was the inaugural 'Australian of the Year'. In 1968, Lionel Rose was the first Aboriginal 'Australian of the Year', John Yu was 'Australian of the Year in 1996 and Sir Gustav Nossal was 'Australian of the Year' in 2000.

8. Which of the following are included in the ingredients list for a basic 'damper'?

Answer: Self raising flour, milk and salt

Delicious with anything you'd have bread with and so easy even the kids can make a 'beaut' damper - millions of Aussies will be tucking into damper of one kind or another on 'Australia Day'.

9. Who was 'Australian of the Year' in 2002?

Answer: Patrick Rafter

The 'Australian of the Year' in 2002 was Patrick Rafter, the 'Young Australian of the Year' in 2002 was palaeontologist Scott Hocknull and the 'Senior Australian of the Year' in 2002 was Professor Graeme Clark who invented the 'bionic ear'.

10. What 'new event' was launched at Sydney Harbour for 'Australia Day' 2003?

Answer: Surfboard Challenge

The 'Australia Day Surfboard Challenge' was held for the first time at Sydney Harbour on 26 January 2003.

Source: Author Engadine

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor minch before going online.
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