The Land of Sinim

Over 224 years ago, on the 26th of January, A.D. 1788, the very first Australia Day, the dominion of the British Throne in the land of Sinim was restored, and the Kingdom of New South Wales established. The land itself had returned to the possession of King Solomon’s successors 18 years earlier, when Captain James Cook claimed Australia for King George III. When Governor Arthur Phillip founded the colony, he was given Vice Regal authority over all His Majesty’s possessions in the South Pacifick. This right remained vested in the New South Welsh Gubernatorial office for 112 years, and for the last century has been held, and still is, by the Governor Generalship of Australia.

In A.D. 1824, Australia’s first distinctive flag, the national colonial flag, was authorised by Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane. It comprises the Union Jack, the Cross of Saint George, and four white stars of the Southern Cross. The national colonial flag remained Australia’s flag until A.D. 1901, and is yet an important emblem of Australia.

The Kingdom of Australia was established by Queen Victoria in A.D. 1842, when she appointed Sir Charles Fitzroy (a descendant of Charles II) as Governor of New South Wales and first Governor General of Australia. From then until A.D. 1900, the Governors of New South Wales each held this position, which united the entire Australian mainland, Tasmania, New Zealand, New Guinea, and most of Melanesia and Polynesia, as one Kingdom, encompassing many Kingdoms, much like Canada and Great Britain.

Queen Victoria, in A,D. 1900, relieved the New South Welsh Governorship of the national Viceroyalty, and appointed Lord Hopetown as Governor General above all. The following year, a new flag was authorised as the Australian national flag: the Union Jack, the national star, and the stars of the Southern Cross, in a blue field. With the addition of a seventh point to the national star, this remains the Australian flag today.

Records show that this parliamentary federation of Australia as a “commonwealth” alienated West Australia and New Zealand. Although the West Australians quickly relented and submitted to the federal apparatus, the New Zealanders held fast to the old Australian Kingdom, and refused to partake of the “commonwealth” within it. This is why New Zealand remains separate. Yet, in my view, the old Kingdom of Australia still exists; it was never really abolished, its visibility was obscured by the parliamentary “commonwealth” and by a combination of forgetfulness and neglect.

Still, time goes on, and there is much to celebrate and to give thanks to God, particularly to those who understand the historical identity of the British Empire as the true, restored, and reunited Kingdom of Israel. Australia’s British future is assured, for when the Lord returns He will gather His people unto Him from the north (Great Britain), from the west (Canada), and from the land of Sinim (the southern bushland, Australia), the three mighty Kingdoms of the British Israelite Empire (Isaiah 49.12).

Australia Day, while commemorating that first day of the southern Britannia, is not, however, Australia’s first publick holiday. That honour belongs to the Queen’s Birthday, which, in the eastern provinces, is always celebrated in early June, for a uniquely Australian reason. In A.D. 1788, barely four months after landing, Governor Phillip ordered all work stopped, and extra grog issued to all, to celebrate King George’s birthday. Ever since, every June, in eastern Australia the people stop work, enjoy a few drinks together, and wish the best of the day to the Reigning Sovereign. The anthem is sung as always and the grand old flag is raised, and God is thanked for the land of Sinim. God save the Queen. Abridged .