On Friday, Australians from coast to coast will come together to honour the sacrifices made by those who have served in the nation’s military conflicts. The official ceremonies for Anzac Day, observed on April 25, will feature traditional dawn services, wreath-laying ceremonies, and commemorative marches.
Local Returned and Services League (RSL) clubs will also host their own events, so community members are encouraged to contact their local clubs for specific details.
In the capital cities, several key events are scheduled. In Sydney, veterans will gather at 4.20 am for the annual dawn service at Martin Place, with public viewing areas open until they reach capacity. A significant march will follow at 9 am, moving from Martin Place to Liverpool Street, alongside a commemoration service scheduled for 12.30 pm at the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park. A beachside dawn service in Coogee is expected to draw at least 12,000 attendees, commencing at 5.30 am.
In Melbourne, the dawn service at the Shrine of Remembrance will begin at 5.30 am, followed by an opportunity for the public to lay poppies in the sanctuary starting at 7 am. The march afterwards will proceed from Swanston Street down St Kilda Road.
Brisbane will observe its dawn service at 4.28 am at the Shrine of Remembrance in Anzac Square, with a public march taking place at 9.45 am. Numerous smaller commemorations are set to occur throughout Queensland.
Adelaide’s dawn service will kick off at 6 am at the South Australian National War Memorial, followed by a march starting at 9.30 am along North Terrace to the Cross of Sacrifice, where a commemorative service will be held at 11.40 am.
Hobart will host a dawn service at 6 am at the Queen’s Domain Cenotaph, with a march scheduled at 11 am and another service at 11.45 am at the same location.
In Perth, the main event will occur at dawn in King’s Park, where significant gatherings are anticipated.
These commemorative events will not only pay tribute to those who have served but will also provide communities an opportunity to reflect on the impact of war and honour the sacrifices made in the name of freedom. Participation in these ceremonies continues to strengthen the spirit and unity of Australians, ensuring that the legacy of those who served is remembered for generations to come.