Queensland Day

Queensland Day is officially celebrated on 6 June as the birthday of the Australian state of Queensland.

History

Detail from Letters Patent erecting Colony of Queensland.

Moves towards statehood began with a public meeting in 1851 to consider separation of Queensland from New South Wales. As the push for separation gained momentum, Queen Victoria was approached to consider establishing a separate colony based at Moreton Bay. The Queen gave her approval and signed the Letters Patent on 6 June 1859. On the same day an Order-in-Council gave Queensland its own Constitution. Queensland became a self-governing colony with its own Governor, a nominated Legislative Council and an elected Legislative Assembly.

Now 6 June is celebrated by Queenslanders as the day when the new colony of Queensland was established.

With the word 'Separation' painted on its hull, the ship Clarence sailed into Brisbane on 10 July 1859, to be greeted by a jubilant crowd eagerly awaiting the news of separation. Clarence was welcomed with a 14-gun salute, a 'blue light' display and fireworks.

On 20 July, Queensland was informed that Sir George Bowen would be the State's first Governor. Celebrations resumed with fireworks, cannon fires, flag raisings and the sound of gunshots.

On 10 December 1859, Governor Bowen arrived in Brisbane to a civic reception in the Botanic Gardens. He officially marked the historic occasion of Separation by reading a proclamation from the verandah of the Deanery of St. John's Cathedral.

Queensland Greats Awards

Since 2001, the Queensland Greats Awards have been presented as part of Queensland Day celebrations. These awards recognise outstanding Queenslanders for their lifetime of dedication and contribution to the development of the state and their role in strengthening and shaping the community. A posthumous category was added in 2015 and from 2016, an institution has been acknowledged annually.

Year	Individuals	Institution	Posthumous
2016	Allan Border Quentin Bryce John Curro Lloyd McDermott Mal Meninga	RSPCA Queensland	George Roberts
2015	Andrew Brice James Dale Pat Fennell Jack Gleeson Robert MacPherson	RSL (Queensland Branch)	Steve Irwin
2014	[[Sallyanne Atkinson Fred Conway Patrick Corrigan Professor Adele Green Win Schubert	Endeavour Foundation
2013	Stefan Ackerie Dimity Dornan Tim Fairfax G.Q. Max Lu Herb Wharton	Australian Red Cross Society
2012	Ken Donald Deborah Mailman Daphne Pirie Sydney Schubert Terry White	Queensland Meals on Wheels
2011	Betty Byrne Henderson George Chapman Graham Jackson Wally Lewis Kerry O'Brien	Queensland State Emergency Service
2010	Mike Ahern Llewellyn Edwards Michael Good Ruth Hegarty Eddie Liu	The University of Queensland (UQ)
2009	Philip Bacon Bill Bristow Kev Carmody Robyn Rodwell Anthony Ryan	Blue Care
2008	Ian Brusasco Pearl Duncun Matthew Hayden Ross Homel Thancoupie	Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (Queensland section)
2007	Ashley Cooper Leneen Forde Doug Hall John Hay Leo Hielscher	Surf Life Saving Queensland
2006	Ian Frazer Jim Kennedy Greg Norman Margaret Olley Geoffrey Rush	Mater Misericordiae Health Service
2005	Bill Brown Tony Gould [[Terry Jackman Aila Keto Rod Laver
2004	Julie H. Campbell Hugh Cornish Richard Lewandowski William Robinson Nick Xynias
2003	Peter Doherty David Malouf Angelo Puglisi Evelyn Scott R. M. Williams
2002	Wayne Bennett Clem Jones Olga Miller Lawrie Powell David Tudehope
2001	Robert "Uncle Bob" Anderson Joe Baker Diane Cilento Angela Mary Doyle Ted Smout

See also

• History of Queensland
• https://www.qld.gov.au/about/events-awards-honours/events/queensland-week/

References

• Queensland Government's History of Queensland Day
• Official Queensland Week Website