Editing Public holidays in Australia (section)

==Public holidays==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;"
|-
! width=10%|Date
! width=10%|[[Australian Capital Territory|ACT]]
! width=10%|[[New South Wales|NSW]]
! width=10%|[[Northern Territory|NT]]
! width=10%|[[Queensland|QLD]]
! width=10%|[[South Australia|SA]]<ref name="Public Holidays SA">{{cite web|title=Public holidays|url=https://www.safework.sa.gov.au/resources/public-holidays|website=SafeWork SA|access-date=17 March 2024}}</ref>
! width=10%|[[Tasmania|TAS]]
! width=10%|[[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]]
! width=10%|[[Western Australia|WA]]
|-
| 1 January || colspan="8" {{Yes|[[New Year's Day]]}}
|-
| 26 January || colspan="8" {{Yes|[[Australia Day]]}}
|-
| 2nd Monday in February || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Yes-No|'''H''' [[Royal Hobart Regatta]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publicholidays.com.au/royal-hobart-regatta/|title=Royal Hobart Regatta 2017 and 2018|website=Publicholidays.com.au|access-date=23 November 2016}}</ref>}} || {{No}} || {{No}}
|-
| 1st Monday in March || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}}<ref name="pubholqld">{{cite web |url= http://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/travel/holidays/public/ |title = Queensland public holiday dates for 2019–2021 | publisher= Queensland Government | access-date = 1 May 2020}}</ref> || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Yes|[[Labour Day]]}}
|-
| 2nd Monday in March || {{Yes|[[Canberra Day]]}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Yes|[[Adelaide Cup]] Day}} || {{Yes|[[Eight Hours Day]]}} || {{Yes|[[Labour Day]]}} || {{No}}
|-
| rowspan="5" | Variable date || colspan="8" {{Yes|[[Good Friday]]}}
|-
| colspan="3" {{Yes|[[Holy Saturday|Easter Saturday]]<ref name=actsat>[http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/communication/holidays Daylight Saving and Public Holidays in the ACT] - ACT Government: Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate. Retrieved 5 March 2018.</ref><ref name=nswsat>[https://www.nsw.gov.au/about-new-south-wales/public-holidays/ NSW Public Holidays] - New South Wales Government. Retrieved 5 March 2018.</ref><ref name=ntsat>[https://nt.gov.au/employ/for-employees-in-nt/nt-public-holidays NT public holidays] - Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 5 March 2018.</ref>}} || {{Yes|[[Holy Saturday|The day after Good Friday]]<ref name=qldsat>[https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/travel/holidays/public Public, school and show holidays] - Queensland Government. Retrieved 5 March 2018.</ref>}} || {{Yes|[[Holy Saturday|Easter Saturday]]}} || {{No}} <ref name="tas-law">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thelaw.tas.gov.au/tocview/index.w3p;cond=;doc_id=96%2B%2B2000%2BAT%40EN%2B20080816000000;histon=;prompt=;rec=-1;term=|title=Statutory Holidays Act 2000|publisher=Tasmania}}</ref> || {{Yes|[[Holy Saturday|Saturday before Easter Sunday]]}}<ref name=vicsat>[http://www.business.vic.gov.au/victorian-public-holidays-and-daylight-saving/victorian-public-holidays Victorian public holidays 2018, 2019] - Business Victoria. Retrieved 5 March 2018.</ref> || {{No}} <ref name="wa-law">{{Cite web|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_act/pabha1972203/index.html|title=Public And Bank Holidays Act 1972|publisher=Western Australia}}</ref>
|-
| colspan="2" {{Yes|[[Easter Sunday]]}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/communication/holidays|title=Daylight Saving and Public Holidays in the ACT|website=Cmd.act.gov.au|date=17 March 2021}}</ref> || {{Yes|[[Easter Sunday]]}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nt.gov.au/nt-public-holidays|title=NT public and regional holidays}}</ref> || {{Yes|[[Easter Sunday]]}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1983-018#sch|title = View - Queensland Legislation - Queensland Government|website=Legislation.qld.gov.au}}</ref> || {{Yes|[[Easter Sunday]]}} || {{No}} || {{Yes|[[Easter Sunday]]}}<ref name="vicgazetteS229">{{cite web|url=http://www.gazette.vic.gov.au/gazette/Gazettes2015/GG2015S229.pdf|title=Victorian Government Gazette – Special S229|date=19 August 2015|publisher=Victorian Government Printer|access-date=20 August 2015}}</ref> || {{Yes|[[Easter Sunday]]}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/labour-relations/easter-sunday-public-holiday|title = Easter Sunday public holiday|website=Commerce.wa.gov.au|access-date=1 March 2023}}</ref>
|-
| colspan="8" {{Yes|[[Easter Monday]]}}
|-
| {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Yes-No|'''C''' [[Easter Tuesday]]}} || {{No}} || {{No}}
|-
| 25 April || colspan="8" {{Yes|[[Anzac Day]]}}
|-
| 1st Monday in May || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Yes|[[May Day]]}} || {{Yes|[[Labour Day]]}}<ref name= "pubholqld"/> || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}}
|-
| 1st Monday after or on 27 May || {{Yes|[[Reconciliation Day]]}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}}
|-
| 1st Monday in June || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Yes|[[Western Australia Day]]}}
|-
| 2nd Monday in June || colspan="3" {{Yes|[[King's Birthday]]}} || {{No}}<ref name= "pubholqld"/> || colspan="3" {{Yes|[[King's Birthday]]}} || {{No}}
|-
| 1st Monday in August || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Yes|[[Picnic Day (Australian holiday)|Picnic Day]]}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}}
|-
| 1st Wednesday after 9 August || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Yes-No|'''B''' [[Royal Queensland Show]]}}<ref name= "pubholqld"/> || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}}
|-
| As proclaimed by the [[Governor of Western Australia]] (September/October) || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Yes|[[King's Birthday]]}}
|-
| Friday before the Australian Football League Grand Final (usually held on the last Saturday in September or first Saturday in October) || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Yes|Friday before the [[Australian Football League]] Grand Final}}<ref name="vicgazetteS229" /> || {{No}}
|-
| 1st Monday in October || colspan="2" {{Yes|[[Labour Day]]}} || {{No}} || {{Yes|[[King's Birthday]]}}<ref name= "pubholqld"/> || {{Yes|[[Labour Day]]}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}}
|-
| 1st Monday in November || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Yes-No|'''NH''' [[Recreation Day holiday|Recreation Day]]}} || {{No}} || {{No}}
|-
| 1st Tuesday in November || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Yes|[[Melbourne Cup]]}}† || {{No}}
|-
| 24 December || {{No}} || {{No}}* || {{Yes-No|'''P''' [[Christmas Eve]]}} || {{Yes-No|'''P''' [[Christmas Eve]]}}<ref name= "pubholqld"/> || {{Yes-No|'''P''' [[Christmas Eve]]}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}}
|-
| 25 December || colspan="8" {{Yes|[[Christmas Day]]}}
|-
| 26 December || colspan="4" {{Yes|[[Boxing Day]]}} || {{Yes|[[Proclamation Day (South Australia)|Proclamation Day]]}} || colspan="3" {{Yes|[[Boxing Day]]}}
|-
| 31 December || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{Yes-No|'''P''' [[New Year's Eve]]}} || {{No}} || {{Yes-No|'''P''' [[New Year's Eve]]}} || {{No}} || {{No}} || {{No}}
|-
! Total holidays !! 13 !! 11 !! 11 + 2 part days !! 11 + 1 part day !! 12 + 2 part days !! 12 !! 13 !! 11
|}

; Legend<nowiki>:</nowiki>
: '''B''' City of Brisbane only. The Royal National Agricultural (RNA) Show Day (Brisbane only) is held on the Wednesday during the RNA Show period. The RNA Show commences on the first Friday in August, unless the first Friday is prior to 5 August, then it commences on the second Friday of August.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/travel/holidays/public|title = Public holidays &#124; Public, school and show holidays|website=Qld.gov.au}}</ref> Other Queensland show holidays: [https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/travel/holidays/show Show holiday dates | Public, school and show holidays]
: '''C''' = Conditional: Public Service employees or where defined in Employment Agreement/Award<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://workplacestandards.tas.gov.au/resources/public_holidays|title=Workplace Standards|publisher=Tasmanian Government|access-date=18 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410150552/http://workplacestandards.tas.gov.au/resources/public_holidays|archive-date=10 April 2013}}</ref>

: '''H''' = Hobart area only
: '''NH''' = Not Hobart area
: '''P''' Part day, from 7&nbsp;pm to midnight (6&nbsp;pm to midnight for QLD)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fairwork.gov.au/leave/public-holidays/pages/listof2012publicholidays.aspx |title=List of 2012 public holidays - Public holidays - Leave - Fair Work Ombudsman |access-date=24 May 2012 |archive-date=15 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615135821/http://www.fairwork.gov.au/leave/public-holidays/pages/listof2012publicholidays.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
: '''†''' Often substituted with the Geelong Cup for Geelong residents. For regional Victoria other local cup days are sometimes substituted. 
: '''*''' Depends on occupation, generally from 6&nbsp;pm to midnight<ref>[http://www.sdansw.org.au/members/members-home/nsw-christmas-public-holiday-guides-2014/] {{dead link|date=April 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

===Substitute holidays for holidays falling on a weekend===
When a public holiday falls on a weekend, the following work day may be considered a public holiday depending on the state/territory and the holiday in question.
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;"
|-
! width=15% | Name
! width=10% | ACT<ref name="act-law">{{Cite web|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/act/consol_act/ha1958106/|title=Holidays Act 1958|publisher=Australian Capital Territory}}</ref>
! width=10% | NSW<ref name="nsw-law">{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/maintop/view/inforce/act+115+2010+cd+0+N|title=Public Holidays Act 2010 No 115|publisher=New South Wales|access-date=10 August 2012|archive-date=5 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805123302/http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/maintop/view/inforce/act+115+2010+cd+0+N|url-status=dead}}</ref>
! width=10% | NT<ref name="nt-law">{{Cite web|url=https://legislation.nt.gov.au/Legislation/PUBLIC-HOLIDAYS-ACT|title=Public Holidays Act|publisher=Northern Territory Government}}</ref>
! width=10% | QLD<ref name="qld-law">{{Cite web|url=https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1983-018|title=Holidays Act 1983|publisher=Queensland Government}}</ref>
! width=10% | SA<ref name="Public Holidays SA"/>
! width=10% | TAS<ref name="tas-law" />
! width=10% | VIC<ref name="vic-bill">{{Cite web|url=http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/pha1993163/s6.html|title=Public Holidays Act 1993|publisher=Victoria}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=No extra public holiday for Anzac Day 2015|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/no-extra-public-holiday-for-anzac-day-2015-20140720-zv1ep.html|newspaper=[[The Age]]|date=20 July 2014}}</ref>
! width=10% | WA<ref name="wa-law"/>
|-
| New Year's Day || colspan="8" | Yes
|-
| [[Australia Day]] || colspan="8" | Yes
|-
| [[Easter Monday]] || colspan="7" | Not applicable (always on a Monday) || Yes (when another public holiday coincides)
|-
| [[ANZAC Day]] || Yes (only if Sunday)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Holidays Act 1958 {{!}} Acts|url=http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/|access-date=25 November 2021|website=ACT Legislation Register|language=en-au}}</ref>|| No<ref>{{cite web|title=Holidays for NSW under the Public Holidays Act 2010|url=http://www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au/oirwww/NSW_public_holidays/NSW_Public_Holidays.page|website=Industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au|access-date=19 February 2018}}</ref> || Yes || Yes (only if Sunday)<ref>{{cite web|title=Public School and Show Holidays|url=https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/travel/holidays/public|access-date=1 May 2025}}</ref> || colspan="3" | No || Yes
|-
| Christmas Eve || colspan="2" | Not applicable (not a holiday) || colspan="3" | No || colspan="3" | Not applicable (not a holiday)
|-
| Christmas Day || colspan="8" | Yes
|-
| [[Boxing Day]]&nbsp;/ [[Proclamation Day (South Australia)|Proclamation Day]] || colspan="8" | Yes 
|-
| New Year's Eve || colspan="2" | Not applicable (not a holiday) || No || Not applicable (not a holiday) || No || colspan="3" | Not applicable (not a holiday)
|}

Holidays that always fall on a particular day of the week are not listed in this table. Prior to 2008, Victorian law only specified substitute holidays for New Year and Boxing Day, and only if they fell on a Sunday.<ref name="vic-law">{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/PubLawToday.nsf/a12f6f60fbd56800ca256de500201e54/B5E771391706115FCA257322000CECB3/$FILE/93-119a022.pdf|title=Public Holidays Act 2003|publisher=Victoria|access-date=16 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225162512/http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/PubLawToday.nsf/a12f6f60fbd56800ca256de500201e54/B5E771391706115FCA257322000CECB3/$FILE/93-119a022.pdf|archive-date=25 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> From 2008, Victorian law specifies the substitute holidays in the table above.<ref name="vic-bill"/>

Since [[Easter Monday]] can occur [[Easter#Date|as late as 26 April]] it is possible for the Easter Monday holiday to coincide with [[Anzac Day]], as occurred in 2011.  State Acts do not give a provision to separate the days when this occurs, so no additional public holiday is given by law. However an extra day is usually proclaimed by the minister, so as to have a steady number of public holidays each year.<ref name="nt-2011">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ocpe.nt.gov.au/legislation/holidays|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012182118/http://ocpe.nt.gov.au/legislation/holidays|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 October 2007|title=Public Holidays 2011|publisher=Northern Territory}}</ref><ref name="sa-2011">{{Cite web|url=http://www.safework.sa.gov.au/show_page.jsp?id=2483#item33650|title=Public Holidays 2011|publisher=South Australia|access-date=16 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151219143813/http://www.safework.sa.gov.au/show_page.jsp?id=2483#item33650|archive-date=19 December 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="tas-2011">{{Cite web|url=http://www.wst.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/84517/2011.pdf|title=Public Holidays 2011|publisher=Tasmania|access-date=16 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907132545/http://www.wst.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/84517/2011.pdf|archive-date=7 September 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the year 2038, Anzac Day will coincide with Easter Sunday.

===Australia Day===
{{Main|Australia Day}}

Nationally, [[Australia Day]] was originally celebrated on 30 July 1915.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2015/07/27/4281586.htm| title = The first Australia Day: 30 July 1915 - ABC (none) - Australian Broadcasting Corporation|website=Abc.net.au}}</ref>

Recorded celebrations of the 26 January date back to 1808 in Australia, and in 1818, Governor [[Lachlan Macquarie]] held the first official celebration of Australia Day.<ref name="nsw-hist">{{Cite web|url=http://www.australiaday.com.au/studentresources/history.aspx#Chronology|title=Australia Day History|access-date=29 October 2007|publisher=Australia Day Council of New South Wales|archive-date=19 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019074126/http://australiaday.com.au/studentresources/history.aspx#Chronology|url-status=dead}}</ref>  26 January was chosen because it is the day of the establishment of the first British settlement at [[Port Jackson]] by Captain [[Arthur Phillip]] in 1788.<ref name="NADCHistory">{{cite web|url=http://www.australiaday.com.au/studentresources/history.aspx|title=National Australia Day Council – History|website=Australiaday.com.au|access-date=20 February 2008|archive-date=19 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019074126/http://australiaday.com.au/studentresources/history.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>  It was made a public holiday in New South Wales in 1836, and Victoria adopted the day as a public holiday in 1931. The 26 January commenced to be recognised by all states and territories as Australia Day in 1935 (pre 150th Anniversary) and all States except SA  observed it from the 1888 centenary.

Australia Day has been celebrated as a national public holiday on 26 January since 1994.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jan/25/australia-day-a-guide-to-changing-minds-without-ruining-the-barbecue|title=Australia Day: a guide to changing minds without ruining the barbecue|date=25 January 2018|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=15 January 2022}}</ref>

Since 1960, the winner of the [[Australian of the Year]] award is announced by the [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]] on the eve of Australia Day (25 Jan).

===Labour Day===
{{Main|Labour Day}}

Labour Day commemorates the achievements of the [[Australian labour movement]]. 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 with no loss of pay, which subsequently inspired the celebration of Labour Day and May Day. In Tasmania the public holiday is called Eight Hours Day and in the Northern Territory it is called May Day.

The Labour Day public holiday varies considerably between the various [[States and territories of Australia|states and territories]]. It is the first Monday in October in the [[Australian Capital Territory]], [[New South Wales]] and [[South Australia]]. In [[Western Australia]], it is the first Monday in March. In both [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] and [[Tasmania]], it is the second Monday in March. In the [[Northern Territory]], and in [[Queensland]]<ref name= "pubholqld"/> it is the first Monday in May.

===Easter===
{{Main|Easter}}

The days of [[Easter]] vary each year depending on the day determined by the [[Western Christian]] calendar. Until 1994 Easter Tuesday was a Bank Holiday in Victoria (it retains this status partially in Tasmania). The day after [[Good Friday]] and before [[Easter Sunday]] is traditionally known as [[Holy Saturday]]. However, the states where that day is a public holiday use different terminology – it is officially gazetted as "Easter Saturday" in the ACT, New South Wales, the Northern Territory and South Australia,<ref name=actsat/><ref name=nswsat/><ref name=ntsat/><ref name="Public Holidays SA"/> as "the day after Good Friday" in Queensland,<ref name=qldsat/> and as "Saturday before Easter Sunday" in Victoria.<ref name=vicsat/>

===ANZAC Day===
{{Main|ANZAC Day}}

[[ANZAC Day]] is a day on which the country remembers those citizens who fell fighting or who served the country in wars. ANZAC Day is commemorated on 25 April every year. The tradition began to remember the [[Australian and New Zealand Army Corps]] (ANZAC) soldiers who [[Battle of Gallipoli|landed]] at [[Gallipoli]] in Turkey during [[World War I]].

ANZAC Day commemoration features marches by veterans and by solemn "Dawn Services", a tradition started in [[Albany, Western Australia|Albany]], Western Australia on 25 April 1923 and now held at [[war memorials]] around the country, accompanied by thoughts of those lost at war to the ceremonial sounds of [[The Last Post]] on the [[Bugle (instrument)|bugle]]. The fourth stanza of [[Laurence Binyon]]'s poem [[s: For the Fallen|For the Fallen]] (known as the "[[Ode of Remembrance]]") is often recited.

===King's Birthday===
{{Main|King's Birthday}}

In all [[States and territories of Australia|states and territories]] except Queensland<ref name= "pubholqld"/> and Western Australia, the King's Birthday is observed on the second Monday in June. Because Western Australia celebrates [[Western Australia Day]] (formerly Foundation Day) on the first Monday in June, the [[Governor of Western Australia]] proclaims the day on which the state will observe the King's Birthday, based on school terms and the [[Perth Royal Show]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/|title=Explore the department: &#124; Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety|website=Commerce.wa.gov.au|access-date=15 January 2022}}</ref> There is no firm rule to determine this date before it is proclaimed, though it is typically the last Monday of September or the first Monday of October: in 2011 the King's Birthday holiday in Western Australia was moved from Monday, 3 October 2011 to Friday, 28 October 2011 to coincide with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which was held in Perth.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/LabourRelations/Content/Employers/Pay_rates_leave_and_conditions/Public_holidays_in_Western_Aus.html |title=Public holidays in Western Australia - Labour Relations - Department of Commerce |access-date=12 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302031743/http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/LabourRelations/Content/Employers/Pay_rates_leave_and_conditions/Public_holidays_in_Western_Aus.html |archive-date=2 March 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> In parts of the Pilbara, it is celebrated on a different date from the rest of Western Australia, and it may even be celebrated on different dates in different parts of the Pilbara.<ref name="commerce.wa.gov.au">{{Cite web|url=https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/labour-relations/regional-dates-queens-birthday-public-holiday|title=Regional dates for the Queen's Birthday public holiday|date=20 February 2014|website=Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Western Australia|access-date=15 January 2022}}</ref> In Queensland, it is celebrated on the 1st Monday in October.<ref name="pubholqld" />

The day has been celebrated since 1788, when [[Governors of New South Wales|Governor]] [[Arthur Phillip]] declared a holiday to mark the birthday of [[George III|King George III]]. Until 1936 it was held on the actual birthday of the Monarch, but after the death of [[George V|King George V]], it was decided to keep the date at mid-year.

On that day the "King's Birthday honours list" is released naming new members of the [[Order of Australia]] and other [[Australian honours system|Australian honours]]. This occurs on the date observed in the Eastern States, not the date observed in Western Australia.

The King's Birthday weekend and [[Empire Day]], 24 May, were long the traditional times for public [[firework]]s displays in Australia. Although they still occur, the tradition has recently been overshadowed by larger New Year's Eve fireworks, as the sale of fireworks to the public was banned by the states in the 1980s, and in the [[Australian Capital Territory|ACT]] as of 24 August 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cracker down: ACT bans fireworks |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/24/2664761.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827202442/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/24/2664761.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 August 2009 |date=24 August 2009 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=24 August 2009}}</ref> In the Northern Territory fireworks remain available to the public on 1 July for the celebration of [[Territory Day]].

===Christmas Day===
{{Main|Christmas in Australia}}

[[Christmas]] is observed on 25 December each year to commemorate the birth of Jesus. In Australia, it was introduced with British settlement in 1788 as the cultural norms were transferred to the new colonies.

===Boxing Day===
{{Main|Boxing Day}}

[[Boxing Day]] is on the day after Christmas, i.e. 26 December each year, except in South Australia where it is replaced by [[Proclamation Day (South Australia)|Proclamation Day]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Public holidays |url=https://www.safework.sa.gov.au/law-compliance/laws-regulations/public-holidays |website=SafeWork SA |publisher=Government of South Australia |access-date=26 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129043249/https://www.safework.sa.gov.au/law-compliance/laws-regulations/public-holidays |archive-date=29 January 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Boxing Day is noted for the start of the post-Christmas sale season. The day has also become a significant sporting day. Melbourne hosts the [[Boxing Day Test|Boxing Day Test match]]; the [[Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race]] also starts on this day.