<P> In 1817 The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser reported on one of these unofficial gatherings at the home of Isaac Nichols: </P> <P> On Monday the 27th ult . a dinner party met at the house of Mr. Isaac Nichols, for the purpose of celebrating the Anniversary of the Institution of this Colony under Governor Philip, which took place on 26 Jan. 1788, but this year happening upon a Sunday, the commemoration dinner was reserved for the day following . The party assembled were select, and about 40 in number . At 5 in the afternoon dinner was on the table, and a more agreeable entertainment could not have been anticipated . After dinner a number of loyal toasts were drank, and a number of festive songs given; and about 10 the company parted, well gratified with the pleasures that the meeting had afforded . </P> <P> 1818 was the 30th anniversary of the founding of the colony, and Governor Lachlan Macquarie chose to acknowledge the day with the first official celebration . The Governor declared that the day would be a holiday for all government workers, granting each an extra allowance of "one pound (c. 450g) of fresh meat", and ordered a 30 - gun salute at Dawes Point--one for each year that the colony had existed . This began a tradition that was retained by the Governors that were to follow . </P> <P> Foundation Day, as it was known at the time, continued to be officially celebrated in New South Wales, and in doing so became connected with sporting events . One of these became a tradition that is still continued today: in 1837 the first running of what would become the Australia Day regatta was held on Sydney Harbour . Five races were held for different classes of boats, from first class sailing vessels to watermen's skiffs, and people viewed the festivities from both onshore and from the decks of boats on the harbour, including the steamboat Australian and the Francis Freeling--the latter running aground during the festivities and having to be refloated the next day . Happy with the success of the regatta, the organisers resolved to make in an annual event . However, some of the celebrations had gained an air of elitism, with the "United Australians" dinner being limited to those born in Australia . In describing the dinner, the Sydney Herald justified the decision, saying: </P>

When was australia day first celebrated as a public holiday