Happy Queensland Day!

6 July is Queensland Day.

History of Queensland Day (link is to PDF, which is reproduced below)

Moves towards statehood began with a public meeting in 1851 to consider separation from New South Wales. As the push for separation gained momentum, Queen Victoria was approached to consider establishing a separate colony based at Moreton Bay. the Queen gave her approval and signed the Letters Patent on 6 June 1859. On the same day an Order-in-Council gave Queensland its own Constitution. Queensland became a self-governing colony with its own Governor, a nominated Legislative Council and an elected Legislative.

Now 6 June is celebrated by Queenslanders as the day when the new colony of
Queensland was established.

With the word ‘Separation’ painted on its hull, the ship ‘Clarence’ sailed into Brisbane on the 10 July to be greeted by a jubilant crowd eagerly awaiting the news of separation. ‘Clarence’ was welcomed with a 14-gun salute, a ‘blue light’ display and fireworks.

On July 20, Queensland was informed that Sir George Ferguson Bowen be the State’s first Governor. Celebrations resumed with fireworks, cannon fires, flag raisings and the sound of gun shots.

On 10 December 1859, Governor Bowen arrived in Brisbane to a civic reception in the Botanic Gardens. He officially marked the historic occasion of Statehood by reading a proclamation from the veranda of the Deanery of St John’s Cathedral.

In 2009, Queensland will celebrate its 150th year of separation.

Update:
Minicapt has given a link in comments to a pretty place: Bowen Park, Nanaimo.