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Australian Events

Posted in 1938

  • Qantas begins air service to Europe Stamp marking Qantas air service to Europe 26 January: The 150th anniversary of white settlement when Captain Arthur Phillip took 'formal possession' of the Colony of New South Wales.
  • 26 January: The 'March of Nationhood' parade through the streets of Sydney is watched by almost one million people. Streets and buildings are decorated with bunting, flags and illuminations and the city is alive with colour and excitement.
  • President of the Aborigines' Progressive Association, Jack Patten, announces at the Day of Mourning Congress on 26 January: "The conference is called to bring home to the white people of Australia the frightful conditions in which the native aborigines of this continent live. We ask for full citizen rights, including old age pensions, maternity bonus, relief work when unemployed, and the right to a full education for our children."
  • Australian population 7 millionFebruary: Sydney hosts the British Empire Games in Australia for the first time.
  • Qantas begins air service to Europe.
  • The Federal government Ministry resigned and was reconstructed in response to public criticism of defence policy and administration.
    The Macquarie Book of Events, 1983 p 347.
  • Strikes in protest over export of pig-iron to Japan.
  • Population 7 million.