January 26 1788

A made-to-order poster featuring The Founding of Australia, a historic painting depicting the establishment of the Australian colony in January 1788.

Traditionally marked as the birth of Australia, when the First Fleet raised the Union Jack at Sydney Cove under the command of Arthur Phillip. Phillip would go on to serve as the first Governor of New South Wales, laying the foundations of the colony from which the Australian nation emerged.

The image captures a formative act of statehood: arrival, authority, and the assertion of a new political order at the edge of the world. Figures gather around the flag as the British presence is formally established, marking the beginning of continuous European settlement and the origins of modern Australia.

Presented here in a contemporary street-poster format, the work forms part of an ongoing Australian identity series that revisits foundational moments without instruction or apology. It does not resolve debate. It situates origins plainly and allows viewers to draw their own conclusions about nationhood, continuity, and inheritance.

Printed in Melbourne on high-quality, heavyweight poster paper and designed for indoor display, this piece combines historical imagery with a modern visual language.

Part of a contemporary Australian history and identity series — direct, foundational, and open to interpretation.

Made to order in Melbourne, Australia. Delivered by Australia Post. 

A1/2: 195gsm Satin Poster Paper

A0 is 841 mm x 1189 mm - this is the original size of the posters on the street, but will be printed in a far higher quality grade of paper as all sizes are.

A1 is 594 x 841 mm - this is a more standard size for decorative posters

A2 is 420 x 594 mm