Australia Day celebrations have exposed a deep national divide, with some joining ‘Invasion Day’ rallies while others waved flags and celebrated the country’s founding only streets away.
Protesters gathered at Redfern in inner-city Sydney to demand the date be moved from January 26, holding signs reading ‘No pride in genocide’ and ‘Invasion Day’.
Meanwhile on the city’s beaches and in nearby parks revellers waved Australian flags and celebrated their country’s national day with fun and sausage sizzles in the sun.
Australia Day celebrations have exposed a deep national divide, with some joining ‘Invasion Day’ rallies while others waved flags and celebrated the country’s founding only streets away
Protesters gathered at Redfern in inner-city Sydney to demand the date be moved from January 26, holding signs reading ‘No pride in genocide’ and ‘Invasion Day’
‘Invasion Day’ protests took place across the country, attended by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal activists and supporters
Meanwhile on the city’s beaches and in nearby parks revellers waved Australian flags and celebrated their country’s national day with fun and sausage sizzles in the sun
People have gathered to make the most of Australia Day spending it outside at the park in the sun
They were joined by a diverse range of groups, from LGBT campaigners with signs saying ‘Lesbians against genocide’ to Muslim women in hijabs holding Aboriginal flags
At Cronulla Beach the Australian flag was the garment of choice and could be seen being worn as a cap, printed on hats, towels and painted on faces
‘Invasion Day’ protests took place across the country, attended by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal activists and supporters.
They were joined by a diverse range of groups, from LGBT campaigners with signs saying ‘Lesbians against genocide’ to Muslim women in hijabs holding Aboriginal flags.
At Cronulla Beach the Australian flag was the garment of choice and could be seen being worn as a cap, printed on hats, towels and painted on faces.
Locals cooked sausages on the barbeque while others went swimming despite the overcast and unseasonably mild weather.
Locals cooked sausages on the barbeque while others went swimming despite the overcast and unseasonably mild weather
Women are pictured wearing the Australian flag as capes while taking a dip at the beach
A group of young people gathered at Cronulla beach pose for a photo holding Australian flags
A group pose for a quick selfie at the beach while others take a dip in the ocean
A woman holds an Aboriginal flag at a demonstration on Australia Day
A man and a woman pose proudly wearing matching t-shirts with the Australian flag emblazoned on them
A group of girls pose for a photo wearing Australian flag headbands
A man holds a sign reading ‘White Australia has a black history’ in Arabic
A woman holds a sign to ‘piss off Mark Latham’ at an anti-Australia Day rally
A group of young people hold their Australian flags high as they relax on the beach on Australia Day
A woman with ‘beer goggles’ on relaxes at the beach with an Australian-flag bucket hat
A man sits on an esky while enjoying a cold Victoria Bitter
A family marches with both the Australian and Indian flags
A protester with a sign reading ‘Australia does not exist’ at an anti-Australia Day rally
Demonstrators take to the streets in protest against Australia Day
A man wearing a vintage World Series Cricket uniform and an Australian flag top hat sits down with a beer
Demonstrators protesting Australia Day, with a sign in the background reading ’26th January Empire Outpost Day’
A man fires up a barbecue in the park while drinking a beer in the park on Australia Day
Protesters holding signs including ‘Asian nurses against genocide’ and ‘Asian students against apartheid’
A protester holds a sign reading ‘our pain is more important than your piss up’
Anti-Australia Day protesters hold a sign reading ‘LGBT+ for decolonisation’ at a rally against the day
Some activists marched for a date change, while others spoke out in favour of abolishing Australia Day altogether until Aboriginal social issues are solved.
‘Invasion Day’ demonstrators were joined by a diverse group of supporters, including some of Asian background holding placard saying ‘Asians against apartheid’ and ‘No Asian pride in genocide’.
Patriotic beachside celebrations were equally diverse, as Australians from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds came together to celebrate the country’s national day.
A woman with an Australian flag draped across her shoulders enters the water for a quick dip
A man raises his fist at an anti-Australia Day rally in front of a coffin with the word ‘colonisation’ written on it
A man wearing an Australian flag top hat and tie blows up a beach ball, also covered with the Australian flag
Protesters hold a sign reading ‘You are on stolen land! Always was, always will be Aboriginal land’
A man wearing budgy smugglers bends over at the beach as others enjoy a snack in the sand on Australia Day
A sign at a protest refers to Australia Day as a ‘Day of Mourning’
Two young people wearing matching shirts and shorts pose for a photo on Australia Day
A woman relaxes on a deck chair with a beer in hand at the park on Australia Day
A protester holds a sign reading ‘worst date ever’ referring to calls to change the date of Australia Day from January 26
Australia Day celebrations have attracted a range of people from many different backgrounds
A person dressed as a stormtrooper from Star Wars holds an Australian flag during a march on Australia Day
A young girl poses for a photo in between two flags while relaxing at a park on Australia Day
Protesters wave flags including the Aboriginal flag and the Maori flag tino tangatiratanga, while holding a message reading ‘black and deadly’