Countdown to ANZAC Day — April 25.
ANZAC Day — April 25 — is one of Australia's most significant national days, commemorating the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. The day now more broadly honours all Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.
Dawn services are held across the country, with the largest gatherings at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, and the Martin Place Cenotaph in Sydney. Many Australians also attend local services at their nearest RSL or war memorial.
ANZAC Day is a national public holiday. Most retail trading is heavily restricted for the first part of the day — shops in most states cannot open before 1pm. This is one of the few public holidays in Australia where restrictions on trading hours remain significant.
Yes — unlike Easter, ANZAC Day is a fixed date. It always falls on April 25, regardless of what day of the week it lands on. When it falls on a weekend, a substitute public holiday is generally not observed (unlike most other Australian public holidays), though this varies by state.
Dawn services typically begin at dawn — usually around 5:30-6:00am depending on location and time of year. The Australian War Memorial in Canberra and major city services attract the largest crowds. Many smaller regional services are held later in the morning.
ANZAC Day has statutory trading restrictions in most Australian states that reflect the day's significance as a day of reflection and commemoration rather than commerce. Restrictions on the morning reflect this intent, with most restrictions lifting at 1pm.
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps — the combined military force that landed at Gallipoli, Turkey, on April 25, 1915, during the First World War. The Gallipoli campaign was ultimately unsuccessful, but the courage and character displayed by the ANZACs became foundational to Australian and New Zealand national identity.