Lyla Lindsey
Did the clocks change last night in Australia? This is a question that Australians in certain states and territories have to ask twice a year. In the autumn, clocks are turned back one hour, and in the spring, they are turned forward one hour. This practice is known as Daylight Saving Time (DST) or Daylight Savings. DST is observed in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. Western Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory do not observe DST.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date and Time of Clock Change | 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, 6 October 2024 |
| Type of Clock Change | Clocks moved forward by one hour to 3:00 a.m. |
| Affected Regions | Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania |
| Unaffected Regions | Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory |
| Impact on Sleep | One hour of sleep lost for those in affected regions |
| Impact on Sunrise and Sunset | Sunrise and sunset will be about one hour later on 6 October 2024 than the day before |
| Impact on Light | More light in the evening and less light in the morning |
| Other Names | Spring Forward, Summer Time, and Daylight Savings Time |
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What You'll Learn
Daylight Saving Time (DST) in Australia
On 2 October 1916, Tasmania became the first state in Australia to use DST. The measure was applied in all Australian states and territories in 1917 but was removed in 1918. DST was then used from 1942 to 1944 during World War II. After the war, DST was not observed in any Australian state or territory until 1 October 1967, when Tasmania reintroduced it during a drought. In 1971, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, and Queensland followed Tasmania. However, Queensland abandoned DST in 1972, and it has not been in use since, except for a trial from 1989 to 1992.
Western Australia conducted a DST trial from 2006 to 2009, but it was also abandoned due to unpopularity. The Northern Territory has not used DST since 1944.
Due to the inconsistent adoption of DST, during the Australian summer, the mainland's three standard time zones increase to five time zones. South Australia time diverges from Northern Territory time, and the time in the southeastern states diverges from Queensland time.
In 2025, DST in Australia will begin on Sunday, 5 October, when clocks will be turned forward by one hour at 2:00 am local standard time to 3:00 am local daylight time. Sunrise and sunset will be about one hour later than the day before, resulting in more light in the evening and less light in the morning. DST will end on Sunday, 6 April 2025, when clocks will be turned backward by one hour at 3:00 am local daylight time to 2:00 am local standard time, providing more light in the morning and less light in the evening.
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States and territories observing DST
In 2025, the clocks go forward by one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, October 5, and backward by one hour at 3 a.m. on Sunday, April 6. Daylight Saving Time (DST) is observed in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory do not observe DST.
Lord Howe Island, located about 600 kilometres northeast of Sydney, observes DST, but the clocks only go forward by 30 minutes. Australian dependencies do not use DST.
DST was first observed in Australia in 1916, and it has been in use for 64 years between 1916 and 2025. Tasmania was the first state to use DST in 1916, and it was applied in all states and territories in 1917. However, it was removed in the whole country in 1918. DST was reintroduced during World War II from 1942 to 1944. After the war, Tasmania was the first state to reintroduce DST in 1967 during a drought.
Queensland abandoned DST in 1972, with the exception of a trial from 1989 to 1992. Western Australia also conducted a DST trial from 2006 to 2009 but abandoned it due to its unpopularity.
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Adjusting your sleep schedule
Daylight Saving Time (DST) in Australia usually begins on the last Saturday night of October and ends on the first Sunday of April. During DST, the clocks are moved forward by one hour, and when DST ends, they are moved back by one hour.
Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory do not observe DST, so clocks in these regions remain the same throughout the year.
- Adults can adapt to a new sleep schedule more easily than children, especially if they are already a little sleep-deprived.
- If you have children, it is recommended to gradually shift their bedtime over the few days before the day the clock changes. For example, every evening for the four days before DST, shift dinner and bedtime 15 minutes earlier. This can be done in baby steps, so they get used to the new time gradually.
- If you are unable to make these adjustments ahead of time, you can try taking your child outside for some quality morning time and staying out for as long as possible.
- Having a bedtime routine in place can also help children adjust to the new time. This could include brushing their teeth, reading books, or listening to white noise, which can help cue their brains that it's time for bed.
- Dimming the lights by 50-75% an hour before bedtime and turning off screens or putting on a blue light filter can help release melatonin, preparing your child's brain for sleep.
- For adults, DST can provide an opportunity to reset your sleep cycle and adapt to an earlier sleep schedule if that is something you have been struggling with.
- While our sleep patterns can naturally adapt over time, preparation can help ease the transition. Small adjustments in the days leading up to the clock change are more effective than drastic changes made weeks in advance.
- If you are someone who struggles with the transition, you can try leaving your oven clock on the original time to give yourself credit for how early you're getting up!
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Impact on travel and transport
Daylight Saving Time (DST) changes in Australia can impact travel and transport in several ways:
Time Discrepancies
Firstly, the time changes can lead to confusion, especially when travelling between states that observe DST and those that do not. This can result in people arriving early or late for flights, trains, or meetings, as they may not have adjusted their clocks correctly. This is particularly relevant for those travelling from states that do not observe DST to those that do, as they will need to manually change their watches and clocks to the local time upon arrival.
Energy Connections
Secondly, for those setting up energy connections, DST can affect activation times. Energy providers follow business hours, and when the clocks change, their service windows might shift. This could potentially impact those travelling or planning a move between states, as they would need to account for time zone differences and check with their energy provider to understand how DST affects their service times.
Sleep and Daily Routine
The change in time can also impact the sleep and daily routines of travellers and transport workers, potentially causing fatigue and disruption. This is especially true when the clocks move forward, resulting in the loss of an hour of sleep. Adjusting sleep schedules gradually in the days leading up to the time change can help mitigate these effects.
Seasonal Variations
DST aims to make better use of natural daylight, providing more light in the evenings during the warmer months and more light in the mornings during the colder months. This can impact outdoor travel plans and transport schedules, with some companies adjusting their business hours and transport timetables to match the seasonal changes in daylight.
Technological Adjustments
Lastly, while many modern devices, such as phones and laptops, automatically update to the new time, older gadgets like alarm clocks, ovens, and microwaves may need to be manually adjusted. This could impact travel plans if alarms or schedules set on these devices are not updated correctly.
Overall, while DST changes in Australia may cause some temporary disruptions to travel and transport, these are typically minor and can be mitigated with careful planning and awareness of the time changes.
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History of DST in Australia
Australia first observed Daylight Saving Time (DST) in 1916. On October 2, 1916, during World War I, Tasmania became the first state in Australia to use DST. The measure was applied in all Australian states and territories in 1917, but it was removed in the whole country in 1918.
DST was reintroduced during World War II, from 1942 to 1944. After the war, DST was not observed in any Australian state or territory until October 1, 1967, when Tasmania brought it back during a drought. In 1971, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, and Queensland followed Tasmania. Queensland abandoned DST in 1972, and, except for a trial from 1989 to 1992, it has not been in use since.
Western Australia conducted a DST trial from 2006 to 2009, but it was abandoned due to its unpopularity. In 2007, Tasmania, the ACT, NSW, Victoria, and SA started DST on the last Sunday in October and ended it on the first Sunday in April. As of 2025, DST is observed in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Jervis Bay Territory, and Norfolk Island. Western Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Australia's other external territories do not observe DST.
Each state and territory decides whether or not to use DST. As a result of the inconsistent adoption of DST, during the Australian summer, the mainland's three standard time zones increase to five time zones.
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Frequently asked questions
Clocks go forward in the spring and back in the autumn.
The clocks change on the first Sunday of October each year. Clocks go forward one hour at 2 am local standard time to 3 am local daylight time.
No, Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory do not observe Daylight Saving Time (DST).
To make better use of daylight during the warmer months and reduce energy consumption by cutting the need for artificial lighting in the evening.
Adjust your bedtime by 15 minutes each night before the change and get outside in the morning to help reset your body clock.
