While Australia Day is widely associated with the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 and the ensuing debates about celebration and commemoration, January 26 has witnessed a rich tapestry of other remarkable events. Beyond the barbecues, flags, and protests, this date has been marked by incidents ranging from the significant to the surreal, offering a unique glimpse into the nation's quirky past.
A Date of Diverse Significance
January 26 is not just about 1788. Historically, it has seen pivotal moments like the Rum Rebellion in 1808, the Waterloo Creek massacre in 1838, the enactment of the Citizenship Act in 1949, the tragic disappearance of the Beaumont Children in 1966, and the establishment of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in 1972. Even in natural history, it was the day of the first recorded European sighting of a koala in 1798, a notable event given Sydney's colonisation a decade earlier.
Yet, alongside these weighty occurrences, January 26 has also hosted a series of curious, odd, and often humorous episodes that add colour to the national narrative. These lesser-known tales provide an alternative way to reflect on this complex day.
Eccentric Episodes Through the Ages
Early Colonial Antics
In 1793, convict Charles Grey earned infamy as Australia's first flasher, reportedly exhibiting himself publicly in Sydney. His punishment was exile to Norfolk Island, where authorities believed he would have fewer opportunities for such villainy. The following year, William Crozier met a grim fate after stealing unground wheat. Consuming it with water caused the wheat to expand in his bowels, leading to his agonising death.
19th Century Curiosities
The 19th century brought its own oddities. In 1831, Mary Adams was noted in court for her extravagant behaviour, including standing on one leg while engaging in nonsensical chatter and sudden bursts of song. In 1845, despite a hailstorm shattering windows, Maitland residents persevered with festive events like greasy pole climbing, dandy horse races, and a muddy pig race, though cricket was cancelled.
Gladstone's founding in 1847 was a bureaucratic comedy. Settlers arrived on January 26, only to learn later that the instruction had been cancelled by a new official in England, forcing their return in April. In 1870, Sydney's Redfern Park hosted a bicycle steeplechase where competitors had to dismount, throw their bikes over hurdles, and remount, all in muddy conditions, sparking protests that required a re-run the next week.
Turn of the Century Tales
In 1892, a Launceston priest prayed for an earthquake to awaken his parishioners to God's power. When a minor quake struck, damaging the hospital, his flock was unimpressed, and insurance agents even considered suing him. By 1909, Perth's telephone exchange woes were blamed on gossiping girls who allegedly monopolised lines, paralysing business communications.
Modern-Day Misadventures
The 20th century added more layers. In 1954, Topsy the elephant escaped a circus, ran into a church, and disrupted a pipe band rehearsal, allegedly due to a dislike of bagpipes. A 1955 strike at Coalcliff saw workers demand to work naked in the heat, costing the company £12,000 over six days.
In 1969, a Brisbane bank robbery attempt turned farcical when the perpetrator, armed with enough gelignite to destroy the building, failed to detonate it properly. More notoriously, in 1978, Mark 'Chopper' Read attempted to kidnap a Melbourne judge at gunpoint in court, only to be thwarted by a kick to the nethers and bailiffs.
Recent decades have seen controversies like Toohey's 2007 ad mocking 'whingeing Poms' for complaining about cold beer, which was deemed to go too far, and Prime Minister Tony Abbott's 2015 'captain's call' to knight Prince Philip, sparking public debate and earning the phrase 'word of the year' status.
Annual Oddities and Traditions
January 26 has also inspired quirky annual events, such as the Sunshine Coast's Great Australian Dunny Race, the Story Bridge Hotel's cockroach race, Rockhampton's beard contest, the Yerong Creek dog high jump, and Wombat's tractor pull. Sadly, the Port Lincoln Tunarama festival, famous for its tuna toss, ended after 2023.
These incidents, among 237 reasons highlighted in Matt Murphy's book Straya Day, remind us that Australia's history on this date is as diverse as it is fascinating, offering a blend of the profound and the peculiar that defines the national character.
