Though the first Europeans to arrive in the region had been Dutch, the western part of Australia had been claimed for Britain on May 2nd 1829 by Captain Fremantle. 

The merchant vessel Parmelia with civilian settlers on board arrived on the night of May 31st 1829 and sighted the coast on June 1st. The Swan River Colony was officially proclaimed on June 11th. 

In 1832, Admiral Sir James Stirling, the administrator of Western Australia decided to establish an annual celebration to unite the new colony’s inhabitants, including all settlers and Aborigines. 

Stirling chose June 1st each year (or if a Sunday, on the following Monday), the date of the first sighting. The holiday was originally called ‘Foundation of the Colony Day’, and later became simply ‘Foundation Day’. 

In 2012, the name was changed to Western Australia Day to be more inclusive of all inhabitants of Western Australia. 

Because of the celebration of Western Australia Day, Western Australia does not celebrate the Queen’s Birthday Holiday in June, as do the other Australian states.