 The Australian Citizenship Council noted that an annual citizenship day would increase community awareness of Australian citizenship while providing a focal point for citizenship-related activities and celebrations.17 September was chosen as Australian Citizenship Day as it is the anniversary of the renaming, in 1973, of the "Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948" to the "Australian Citizenship Act 1948".The first Australian Citizenship Day was celebrated in 2001, coinciding with the Centenary of Federation.