Picnic Day (Australian holiday) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Picnic Day |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Picnic Day in Pine Creek, 1937
|
|
| Official name | Dia internacional del DAUN |
| Also called | DAUN |
| Observed by | Northern Territory, Australia |
| Date | First Monday in August |
| 2024 date | August 5 |
| 2025 date | August 4 |
| 2026 date | August 3 |
| 2027 date | August 2 |
| Frequency | annual |
Picnic Day is a special public holiday celebrated in the Northern Territory of Australia. Every year, people get to enjoy a day off on the first Monday of August. It's a time for fun, relaxation, and often, picnics!
The History of Picnic Day
Picnic Day has a long and interesting past in the Northern Territory. Events like it started way back in the late 1800s. These early gatherings happened in different places. Some popular spots included Adelaide River, Brunette Downs Station, and Glencoe Paddock. They didn't always happen at the same time of year either.
Early Railway Picnics
A regular annual event called Union Picnic Day or Trade Picnic Day was held at Adelaide River. This holiday was mainly for railway employees who worked on the North Australia Railway. We don't know exactly when the very first one took place. Sometimes, workers from Public Works also joined in the fun.
Between 1926 and 1935, the railway Picnic Day was not held. People tried to bring the holiday back in 1933. However, it wasn't officially celebrated again until three years later. On Monday, October 5, 1936, a special train carried people from Darwin to Adelaide River. It left early in the morning and returned late at night. The hotel in Adelaide River had record sales that day!
Harts Range Races Tradition
Another exciting event linked to Picnic Day is the Harts Range Races. These races happen in Central Australia during the Picnic Day long weekend. The tradition began in 1946. Three brothers, Bennett, Qinton, and Kil Webb, from Mount Riddock Station had a friendly race. They raced against a stockman named Jack Schaber and a policeman, Senior Constable Bob Darken. They wanted to see who had the fastest horse!
This exciting race inspired the first official racing meet at Harts Range. It took place in November 1947. Since then, it has become a popular annual event.
