International Tartan Day – 1 July

Tartan Day is a celebration of Scottish heritage in some English-speaking countries. In Australia and New Zealand, it is held annually on July 1 and is sometimes referred to as International Tartan Day.

Does Australia have a tartan? YES!

The Australia tartan (also known as the Australian tartan) was designed by John Reid, a Melbourne architect, as the result of a national competition held by the Scottish Australian Heritage Council. He based his design on the warm colours of the ‘outback’ and the pattern of the tartan of Lachlan Macquarie, who became the second Scottish born Governor of the Australian Colony of New South Wales in 1809. The tartan is design registered in Australia (No. 97439).