Damon Mcknight
Australia has a varied history with Daylight Saving Time (DST). DST was first observed in 1916 during World War I, and was applied in all states. It was used again during World War II. After the war, DST was abandoned until 1967, when Tasmania reintroduced it to combat a drought. In 1971, several other states followed Tasmania, but Queensland abandoned DST the following year. Queensland has since had a particularly involved debate over DST, with a referendum held in 1992 that was defeated with a 54.5% 'no' vote. Western Australia has also rejected DST in multiple referendums. In 2025, only some parts of Australia will use DST, including New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, and Norfolk Island.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Does Australia have Daylight Saving Time (DST)? | Yes, but not in all states or territories. |
| Which states/territories observe DST? | New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, Norfolk Island, and Lord Howe Island. |
| Which states/territories do not observe DST? | Queensland, Western Australia, Northern Territory, and other external territories. |
| When do clocks change for DST? | DST begins at 2 am (AEST) on the first Sunday in October and ends at 3 am (Australian Eastern Daylight Time) on the first Sunday in April. |
| What are the time zones for states/territories observing DST? | New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, and Tasmania: Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT), UTC +11. South Australia and the New South Wales town of Broken Hill: Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT), UTC +10.5. Lord Howe Island: UTC+10.30 to UTC+11. |
| Has Australia always had DST? | No, DST was first observed in 1916 during World War I and was used in all states. It was used again during World War II and intermittently since then, with some states adopting and abandoning it at different times. |
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What You'll Learn
States observing DST
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is currently observed in the Australian states of New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria, as well as the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Jervis Bay Territory, and Norfolk Island.
Each state or territory decides whether or not to use DST. During World War I and World War II, all states and territories observed DST by federal law. Tasmania was the first state to adopt DST in 1916, and other states followed suit in 1917. However, DST was removed across the country in 1918. DST was reintroduced during World War II from 1942 to 1944. After the war, DST was not observed in any state or territory until Tasmania reintroduced it in 1967 due to a drought. In 1971, several states, including New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory, also adopted DST.
Queensland abandoned DST in 1972 and, except for a trial from 1989 to 1992, it has not been in use since. Western Australia has also rejected DST in multiple referendums and trials due to public opposition. In 2006, all states that followed DST delayed their return to standard time due to the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Lord Howe Island, located northeast of Sydney, observes DST with a unique schedule. The island's clocks go forward only 30 minutes, from UTC+10:30 to UTC+11.
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Queensland's stance
Queensland has a unique stance on Daylight Saving Time (DST) in Australia. Unlike other states, Queensland does not observe DST and has not done so since 1972, with the exception of a trial period from 1989 to 1992.
Queensland's decision to abandon DST has been a topic of debate, with public opinion geographically divided. A referendum on DST was held in Queensland on 22 February 1992, following the three-year trial. The referendum was defeated with a 54.5% 'no' vote, indicating that a majority of Queenslanders did not want to adopt DST. The results showed a distinct trend, with the 'no' vote stronger in the north and west regional districts, while the 'yes' vote prevailed in the state's metropolitan south-east.
Since the early 2000s, there have been ongoing efforts to reintroduce DST in Queensland. Several petitions have been submitted to the Queensland Parliament, calling for the implementation of DST or for another referendum to be held. In 2010, the Daylight Saving for South East Queensland (DS4SEQ) political party approached Queensland Independent member Peter Wellington to introduce a bill for a referendum on DST in South East Queensland. However, this bill was defeated in Parliament in 2011.
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Western Australia's stance
Western Australia has consistently rejected the adoption of Daylight Saving Time (DST). It is the only state that does not observe DST, remaining on standard time all year round. Queensland is the only other state that does not adjust its clocks.
In 2006, the Parliament of Western Australia approved a three-year DST trial, with a referendum to follow, which would decide whether DST should be implemented permanently. However, the trial was unpopular and was abandoned after the first year. The WA Nationals brought the referendum forward to 2007, but this was also rejected.
The Australian summer DST schedule involves turning clocks forward one hour, beginning at 2 am on the first Sunday in October and ending at 3 am on the first Sunday in April. This results in more daylight in the evenings and less in the mornings. Western Australia's decision to remain on standard time means that it does not experience this seasonal change, with clocks remaining consistent throughout the year.
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Lord Howe Island's clock change
Australia has observed Daylight Saving Time (DST) for 64 years between 1916 and 2025. DST was first observed in 1916 during World War I, and was applied in all states. DST was used again during World War II.
Lord Howe Island, located about 600-781 kilometers (373-486 miles) northeast of Sydney, is part of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW). The island observes Lord Howe Standard Time (LHST) which is 10 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+10:30) during standard time.
During the DST period, they use Lord Howe Daylight Time (LHDT) with a UTC offset of +11 (UTC+11:00). This is because the clocks on Lord Howe Island are set forward by only 30 minutes, not the usual one hour. DST starts on the first Sunday of October and ends on the first Sunday of April, the same as mainland Australia.
The island's DST schedule is in sync with the rest of Australia, except for the 30-minute difference. Lord Howe Island's time was officially set to UTC+10:30 in the Standard Time Act of 1971 in NSW legislature. However, sources indicate that the island’s practice of maintaining a 30-minute difference with mainland New South Wales started as early as 1904.
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History of DST in Australia
The history of Daylight Saving Time (DST) in Australia dates back to World War I. On 2 October 1916, Tasmania became the first state in Australia to use DST. The following year, in 1917, all Australian states and territories adopted DST, but it was discontinued in 1918 after World War I ended.
DST was reintroduced during World War II, from 1942 to 1944, but after the war, it was not observed in any Australian state or territory until 1 October 1967, when Tasmania once again led the way due to a drought. In 1971, several other states, including the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, and Queensland, followed Tasmania in adopting DST. However, Queensland abandoned DST in 1972, and it has not been in use there since, except for a trial period from 1989 to 1992.
Western Australia has also had a complex relationship with DST. While it did not adopt DST in 1971 along with the other states, it conducted a DST trial from 2006 to 2009, which was ultimately abandoned due to unpopularity. Western Australia held four referendums on DST in 1975, 1984, 1992, and 2009, all of which rejected the implementation of DST.
Today, DST is observed in the Australian states of New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, and Norfolk Island. Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and other external territories do not observe DST. The inconsistent adoption of DST across Australia's states and territories results in the mainland having up to five different time zones during the summer months.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, some parts of Australia change their clocks for Daylight Saving Time (DST).
DST is currently observed in New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, and Norfolk Island.
Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Australia's other external territories do not observe DST.
DST begins at 2 am (AEST) on the first Sunday in October and ends at 3 am (Australian Eastern Daylight Time) on the first Sunday in April.
