Proclamation Day

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Proclamation Day is the day South Australia was proclaimed a British colony. It also refers to the day that Western Australia proclaimed responsible government.

[edit] South Australia

Proclamation Day is the South Australian public holiday that celebrates the proclamation of South Australia as a British province. The proclamation took place at The Old Gum Tree at Glenelg on December 28, 1836 by Captain John Hindmarsh. The proclamation included the same protection under the law for the local native population as for the settlers. It is now a public holiday in South Australia, although this holiday is on the first work day after the Christmas Day public holiday (usually December 26). The proclamation was printed by Robert Thomas (1782 to 1860) who came from England with his family on the Africaine which arrived at Holdfast Bay on the 8th November 1836. Robert Thomas brought with him the first printing press to reach South Australia. The press was a Stanhope Invenit No.200 which was on display in the State Library until 2001. The colonising fleet consisted of 10 vessels which gathered at Nepean Bay before being directed to Holdfast Bay. Africaine was the first to arrive, discharging settlers on 9th November 1836 followed by 'Emma', 'John Pirie', and 'Tam O'Shanter'. These deliberately preceded Governor John Hindmarsh on the Buffalo since the proclamation was then able to be printed in advance of his formal arrival on December 28th. Robert Thomas' wife Mary Thomas (who died in 1875) published 'The Diary of Mary Thomas' which described the journey on the Africaine and the early years in 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.' One of the children of Robert and Mary Thomas was a surveyor, who assisted Colonel Light in the survey which lead to the City of Adelaide. Another son, William Kyffin Thomas, inherited from his father the newspaper of the time 'The Register', which his parents had set up. William had a son, also called Robert, who became senior proprietor of 'The Register'. He was knighted by King Edward VII in 1909 when President of the first great Press Conference in London.

[edit] Western Australia

Proclamation Day also refers to October 21, 1890, the day that responsible government was proclaimed in Western Australia. It used to be a public holiday in Western Australia, but gradually the celebrations were pre-empted by those who wished to celebrate the achievement of the eight-hour day. In 1919 it was renamed Labour Day, and shortly afterwards the celebration date changed, with the result that Proclamation Day is no longer a public holiday in Western Australia.