The date was settled at the following Senior Officials Meeting in Canberra in 1976. With the deliberate focus on reaching a young audience the second Monday in March was selected as one when all Commonwealth children would be in school. So 1977 marked the first simultaneous observance day across all the Commonwealth.

Over the past 30 years the day has been an opportunity to learn and explore both the history of our association as well as current concerns that are common to us all.

The Archives and the Library of the Commonwealth Secretariat hold the records of these discussions, plus mementos and other related resources.