What Is Anzac Day? History, Services and Traditions
Anzac Day is Australia’s national day of commemoration, held on 25 April each year. It began with remembrance of Australians and New Zealanders who served in the Gallipoli campaign of 1915, but its meaning now extends to people who have served in wars, conflicts and peace operations. Across Australia, the day commonly includes a service before sunrise, a veterans’ march, wreath-laying and a period of quiet reflection. It is a solemn occasion rather than a celebration of war.
Gallipoli and the meaning of ANZAC
ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The initials became a pronounceable name in military communications during the First World War. On 25 April 1915, soldiers from the corps landed on the Gallipoli peninsula, in what is now Türkiye, as part of an Allied campaign against the Ottoman Empire. The landing did not produce the rapid military success planners had sought. The campaign developed into months of difficult fighting before Allied forces evacuated the peninsula in December 1915.
The Gallipoli campaign involved forces from several nations, not only Australia and New Zealand. For both countries, however, the experience acquired lasting national significance. The first anniversary was commemorated in 1916, while the war continued. Anzac Day later broadened beyond Gallipoli and the First World War. Australians now use it to acknowledge service, loss and the effects of conflict on veterans, families and communities across generations.
Why the service begins at dawn
A dawn service connects the present-day ceremony with two parts of the Gallipoli story. Australian troops began coming ashore around dawn on 25 April 1915, so the hour recalls the landing itself. Dawn also carried a particular meaning for soldiers. During the First World War, troops on the front line performed a routine known as stand-to, taking their defensive positions before first light because an attack was considered more likely as darkness lifted. Returned servicemen later drew on that familiar hour for remembrance.
A local ceremony may begin in darkness and continue as the sky brightens. Although details vary, common elements include an acknowledgement of those who served, wreath-laying, the Ode of Remembrance, the Last Post, silence and the playing of Reveille or Rouse. Many communities then hold a later march involving veterans, current service personnel, descendants, community groups and school representatives. Attendance does not require a military connection or a particular belief; people may participate publicly or observe the day privately.
Trading limits are different around Australia
The familiar idea that ordinary trading resumes after lunch does not describe one Australia-wide rule. States and territories regulate shop trading separately, and exemptions can depend on the type and size of a business. In Victoria, Anzac Day is a restricted trading period from 12:01 am until 1:00 pm, although specified exempt shops may operate. Entertainment venues and real-estate auctions face additional limits before 1:00 pm. This is why many Victorian streets remain quiet through the dawn service and morning march, rather than returning to ordinary activity at noon.
New South Wales now takes a different approach. Since 25 April 2025, non-exempt retail shops in NSW must remain closed for the whole of Anzac Day, not merely during the morning. Certain businesses and small shops can qualify for exemptions. Other jurisdictions apply their own categories and hours, so you should not assume that a shop permitted to open in one capital city follows the same rule in another. Alcohol service, entertainment and employee arrangements may also sit under separate requirements.
How New Zealand marks the same day
New Zealand also commemorates Anzac Day on 25 April, reflecting the shared corps and the service of New Zealand personnel. Its ceremonies have recognisable features in common with Australian observances: dawn gatherings at local memorials, veterans and defence personnel on parade, wreaths, the Ode and periods of silence. New Zealand commemorations place their own national experiences at the centre, including losses on the Western Front and service in later conflicts and peace-support operations. Māori language, remembrance traditions and local histories may also have a more visible place in the ceremony.
A practical difference appears in New Zealand’s nationwide shop rules. Almost all shops must remain closed until 1:00 pm on Anzac Day, subject to defined exceptions and some historic area exemptions. If 25 April falls on a weekend, employment law may provide an observed weekday holiday for eligible workers, but the shop-trading restriction still applies to the morning of the actual date. Australia has no single equivalent arrangement across every state and territory. The two countries therefore share the date, the Gallipoli origin and many ceremonial forms while expressing remembrance through their own laws, histories and communities.
Common questions
What does ANZAC stand for?
ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The name arose during the First World War and became closely associated with the 1915 Gallipoli campaign.
Why is Anzac Day held on 25 April?
The date marks the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops on the Gallipoli peninsula on 25 April 1915. The commemoration now recognises service and sacrifice across later wars, conflicts and peace operations as well.
Why are Anzac Day services held before sunrise?
Dawn recalls the hour of the Gallipoli landing and the wartime stand-to routine, when troops guarded their positions as daylight approached. The gradual change from darkness to light also gives the ceremony a reflective setting.
Are shops closed until noon on Anzac Day?
There is no single Australian rule, and the relevant restrictions often continue beyond noon. Victoria restricts much ordinary shop trading until 1:00 pm, while NSW generally requires non-exempt retail shops to close for the whole day.
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