Australia Day

This is the Story of Australia – the story of an extraordinary nation. The story begins 60,000 years ago. New chapters are written every day. On Australia Day, we reflect on our history, its highs and its lows. We respect the stories of others. And we celebrate our nation, its achievements and most of all, its people. We’re all part of the story.*

Learn more about Australia, and the stories of our people with some of our favourite Australia Day picks below…

Biographies

How to be Australian: an Outsider’s View on Life and Love Down Under by Ashley Kalagian Blunt

After spending her twenties working abroad and travelling solo, Canadian Ashley convinces her career-oriented boyfriend to relocate to sunny, carefree, no-worries Australia for a year. An anxious dreamer, Ashley longs to bathe in the national characteristics of her chosen new home and feel the way Australians do. Ashley resolves to discover an Australia that’s meaningful for her, to travel the country, learn its history, and make Australian friends. On this quest, she attends a waffle match, falls in love with ibises, discovers the ‘visibly male’ kangaroo atop Parliament House, travels to The Vagina, and much more. Ashley comes to love her new home, despite its political challenges and identity issues.

Information

The Australia Survival Guide by George Ivanoff

Oh no! You’ve been bitten by an inland taipan? Don’t worry, The Australia Survival Guide has the first-aid advice you need! What’s that? You’re lost in the bush and need to know how to collect your own water? The Australian Survival Guide has got you covered. Our amazing country has its fair share of dangers: sharks, snakes, cyclones and crocodiles can be a serious threat to your life! But don’t worry, this book will help you by providing the knowledge you need to survive in all kinds of Aussie conditions. So get out there and look around! Even if you think Australia is trying to kill you, The Australia Survival Guide can save your life!

Fiction

Close to Home by Janet Gover

Aunt Alice Dwyer loves her small Australian town. She’s rarely left its comforting embrace. She knows everyone it it; in fact, she’s related to most of them. All she wants is to keep her family safe and the town running exactly the way it always has. Her way. But when an exotic French artist comes to town, her hold begins to weaken…

DVDs

Australia Day 

On Australia’s most controversial national holiday, the lives of three Australians from diverse cultural backgrounds will collide, illuminating contemporary issues of racial tension and national identity that simmer beneath the surface of modern Australia.

Picture Books

Love From Australia by Ruth Waters

In the form of postcards, Love from Australia explores this extraordinary country and introduces us to its most loveable (and frightening!) creatures, from crocs in Darwin to kangaroos in Canberra.

Want to know what’s happening for Australia Day in your local area? Click here.

*Learn more about Australia Day and how you can get involved by visiting the Australia Day website.

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