Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia has a number of public holidays observed nationwide, including New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. In addition to these national public holidays, each of the six states and two territories has its own unique holidays, such as Canberra Day in the Australian Capital Territory and Melbourne Cup Day in Victoria. The number of public holidays varies across the country, with the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria having the most full-day public holidays in 2025, at 13 days off.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of national public holidays | 9 |
| Number of state-specific public holidays | 2 |
| Total number of public holidays in Australian Capital Territory | 13 |
| Total number of public holidays in Victoria | 13 |
| Total number of public holidays in Northern Territory | 12 |
| Total number of public holidays in South Australia | 12 |
| Total number of public holidays in Queensland | 11 |
| Total number of public holidays in New South Wales | 11 |
| Total number of public holidays in Western Australia | 11 |
| Total number of public holidays in Tasmania | 10 |
| National public holidays | New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day |
| States with Labour Day as a public holiday | Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland |
| States with King's Birthday as a public holiday | Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory |
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What You'll Learn
Australia Day: 26 January
Australia Day, celebrated annually on 26 January, is the country's official national day. It marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet and the raising of the Union Flag of Great Britain by Captain Arthur Phillip at Sydney Cove, a small bay on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour. The day is an important annual opportunity to recognise the place of Indigenous Australians in the nation's history and promote understanding, respect, and reconciliation.
The meaning and significance of Australia Day have evolved since the first records of celebration in 1808, with contested views on the day existing since at least 1888. Previously, each state celebrated different days that acknowledged their founding, such as Regatta Day in Tasmania, Queensland Day in Queensland, or Foundation Day in Western Australia. Following Federation in 1901, moves for a national holiday gained momentum, with the name Australia Day and the date of 26 January finally selected in 1935. In 1994, it became a national public holiday, fixed in all jurisdictions on 26 January.
Australia Day is more than just a public holiday. It is a day driven by communities, with celebrations held in each town, suburb, or city, unified by the celebration of what's great about Australia and being Australian. The day is marked by the presentation of community awards and citizenship ceremonies. The Australian of the Year Awards, which celebrate the achievements and contributions of eminent Australians in various fields, are also announced on Australia Day Eve.
For Indigenous Australians, 26 January is a day of mourning, marking the start of the British colonisation of Australia. It is characterised as an invasion where Indigenous Australians had their land forcibly taken from them after occupying it for millennia. Some observe this day as Invasion Day, Survival Day, or a Day of Mourning, with some calling for the date of Australia Day to be changed or abolished. Support for changing the date has been a minority position, although polls from 2021 indicate that younger Australians are more supportive of the change.
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Anzac Day: 25 April
Australia has several national public holidays, including New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. Anzac Day, observed on 25 April, is a significant nationwide public holiday in Australia.
Anzac Day, held annually on 25 April, is a national day of remembrance in Australia, New Zealand, and Tonga. The day commemorates the contributions and sacrifices of Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The acronym ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, and Anzac Day specifically marks the anniversary of the first campaign during World War I that resulted in significant casualties for the ANZAC forces.
The origin of Anzac Day lies in the Gallipoli campaign of 1915. On 25 April 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers, known as Anzacs, participated in an Allied expedition to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula in the Ottoman Empire. However, they encountered fierce resistance from Ottoman Turkish defenders, leading to a stalemate and prolonged campaign. Both sides suffered heavy casualties, with over 8,000 Australian soldiers losing their lives.
The landing at Anzac Cove left an indelible mark on the minds of people even while the campaign was ongoing. The date of 25 April quickly became associated with remembering those who had perished in the war. In 1916, the first Anzac Day march took place in London and Australia, and the date was officially named Anzac Day. Anzac Day has since evolved into one of the most important national occasions in Australia and New Zealand, with ceremonies and meanings adapting over time.
Anzac Day is marked by dawn services, marches, wreath-laying ceremonies, church services, moments of silence, and luncheons for returned soldiers. These commemorative events are held across Australia and in various parts of the world, attracting large crowds. Anzac Day is a time for Australians to honour the service and sacrifice of their military personnel and to recognise those who are currently serving overseas.
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Labour Day: date varies
Labour Day is a public holiday in Australia that was originally called 'Eight Hours Day'. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. The date varies across the states and territories.
Labour Day commemorates the achievements of the Australian labour movement and the granting of the eight-hour working day for Australians. It also recognises workers' contributions to the nation's economy. The celebration of Labour Day has its origins in the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest. On 21 April 1856, stonemasons and building workers on building sites around Melbourne, Australia, stopped work and marched from the University of Melbourne to Parliament House to achieve an eight-hour day. Their direct action protest was a success, and they are noted as the first organised workers in the world to achieve an eight-hour day.
Labour Day is celebrated at different times across Australia because each state achieved the eight-hour day on different dates. In Western Australia, it is observed on the first Monday in March. In Victoria and Tasmania, it is the second Monday in March. In the Northern Territory and Queensland, it is the first Monday in May, also known as 'May Day'. In the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, and South Australia, it is the first Monday of October.
Many people use the Labour Day holiday as part of a long weekend, where they can relax, spend time with friends or family, play or watch sports, or have barbecues. Some people plan a getaway trip to a coastal region, the mountains, or the countryside, where they can engage in various activities such as picnics, wine-tasting, bush-walking, or camping.
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Christmas Day: 25 December
Christmas Day, celebrated on 25 December, is a national public holiday in Australia. It is a religious, cultural, and commercial holiday, when most Australians spend time with family and friends, exchanging gifts and sharing meals. Christmas Day falls in the middle of the summer school holidays, so many people celebrate away from home, in holiday parks, on campsites, or at relatives' homes.
In Australia, Christmas Day is an occasion for Christians to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Different denominations have a range of traditions and types of church services. Catholics often attend midnight mass, which starts at midnight as Christmas Eve turns to Christmas Day. Other denominations attend special church services during the day on 25 December.
In the weeks before Christmas Day, many people decorate their homes with Christmas trees, candles, small electric lights, glass baubles, tinsel, snowmen, fake snow, and figures of Santa Claus in his red fur-trimmed outfit. Typically Australian decorations are also used, such as glass baubles or wooden ornaments decorated with images of Australian wildlife, such as bilbies, koalas, king parrots, and Waratah flowers, or Australian landmarks. Small statues of native animals dressed in 'Santa' hats and sleighs pulled by groups of six white kangaroos are also popular, as are figures of Santa Claus in beach clothing. On Christmas Day, children hope to receive gifts in a stocking or under the Christmas tree from the mythical figure Santa Claus. In the weeks before Christmas, they write letters to him so that he knows what they want.
Many people eat a special meal on Christmas Day. Traditionally, the main meal was similar to the Christmas meals served in Europe, consisting of roast meats and vegetables, heavy fruit cakes, and steamed puddings. A small coin was often baked inside a steamed pudding, which was doused with burning alcohol before being served. Whoever found the coin in their portion was said to have luck for the coming year. Now, many people choose to hold a barbecue at the beach or a picnic in a park, or prepare a meal of cold meat and seafood, followed by pavlova, a soft meringue cake topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit.
Christmas Day is a public holiday, so most shops and businesses are closed. However, some businesses are allowed to be open on this day, and others may have restricted trading hours. Public transport systems may also be closed or offer only a limited service.
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Boxing Day: 26 December
Australia has several national public holidays, including New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. In addition to these national holidays, each state and territory in Australia has its own public holidays, such as Labour Day, Canberra Day, Reconciliation Day, and King's Birthday.
Boxing Day, which falls on December 26, the day after Christmas, is a public holiday in Australia. It is a day off for most people, and schools and many businesses are typically closed. Boxing Day is also known as Offering Day and is celebrated in several Commonwealth nations. The day was originally a day to donate gifts to those in need, but it has evolved to become a part of Christmas festivities, with many people taking advantage of post-Christmas sales.
Boxing Day is associated with several traditions and customs. In the United Kingdom, it was customary for tradesmen to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as a token of appreciation for their services throughout the year. This tradition is linked to an older British custom where servants were allowed to visit their families on the day after Christmas, as they would have served their masters on Christmas Day. Employers would give each servant a box containing gifts, bonuses, and sometimes leftover food to take home.
Boxing Day is also a prominent day for sporting events in Australia. The Boxing Day Test match is a cricket game held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, featuring the Australian National cricket team against other touring national teams. Another notable sporting event is the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, also known as the Bluewater Classic, which covers a distance of 630 nautical miles. These events generate significant media interest, with television programs dominated by sporting coverage on Boxing Day.
In terms of shopping, Boxing Day sales are common, with shops offering dramatic price reductions. This has become the busiest shopping day of the year for many merchants, attracting millions of shoppers seeking deals. Overall, Boxing Day in Australia is a day filled with sports, shopping, and leisure activities, providing a continuation of the festive celebrations following Christmas Day.
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Frequently asked questions
There are nine national public holidays in Australia.
The national public holidays in Australia are New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.
Yes, each of the six states and two territories has its own unique holidays. For example, Canberra Day is celebrated in the Australian Capital Territory, and Melbourne Cup Day is celebrated in Victoria.
The dates of public holidays in Australia vary. Some fall on fixed dates, such as Australia Day on 26 January, while others, like Easter Monday, depend on the Western Christian calendar.
