Special Dates in Australia

Special Dates in Australia and UK

Although Australia and the UK share some special dates, these are not always on the same day, and some are classed as Holidays in one country but not the other.

Labour Day – May Day – Eight Hours Day

Labour Day is normally held on the first Monday in May and celebrates the International Workers’ Day with an annual public holiday.
Different Australian States have different names for this day; Labour Day, Eight Hours Day and May Day, and some do not celebrate it in May.
In the UK, May Day is a bank holiday and is held on the first Monday in May. This is the same day as the International Workers’ Day, also known as Labour Day.

Labour Day 2018

• 5th March 2018 Labour Day in WA
• 12th March 2018 Eight Hours Day in TAS
• 12th March 2018 Labour Day in VIC
• 7th May 2018 May Day in NT
• 7th May 2018 Labour Day in QLD
• 7th May 2018 Labour Day in United Kingdom
• 1st October 2018 Labour Day in ACT, NSW & SA

Labour Day 2019

• 4th March 2019 Labour Day in WA
• 11th March 2019 Eight Hours Day in TAS
• 11th March 2019 Labour Day in VIC
• 6th May 2019 May Day in NT
• 6th May 2019 Labour Day in QLD
• 6th May 2019 Labour Day in United Kingdom
• 7th October 2019 Labour Day in ACT, NSW & SA

Mothers Day – Mothering Sunday

Mothers Day dates

Fathers Day

Fathers Day dates

Pancake Day

Pancake Day is not as well known in Australia as it is in the UK, but it is known by some. It is not a holiday in either country.

• 2018 – Shrove Tuesday 13th February 2018
• 2019 – Shrove Tuesday 5th March 2019
• 2020 – Shrove Tuesday 25th February 2020
• 2021 – Shrove Tuesday 16th February 2021
• 2022 – Shrove Tuesday 1st March 2022
• 2023 – Shrove Tuesday 21st February 2023
• 2024 – Shrove Tuesday 13th February 2024
• 2025 – Shrove Tuesday 4th March 2025

Easter

Easter 2018 – 30th Mar 2018 to Monday 2nd April 2018 in both UK and Australia

Easter Tuesday, 3rd April 2018 is also a restricted public holiday in Tasmania, observed by some employment sectors.
Good Friday is not a holiday in Tas or WA
Easter Sunday is only a holiday in ACT, NSW, QLD and VIC

Easter 2019 – 19th April 2018 to 22nd April 2018 in both UK and Australia

Easter Tuesday, 23rd April 2018 is also a restricted public holiday in Tasmania, observed by some employment sectors.
Good Friday is not a holiday in Tas or WA
Easter Sunday is only a holiday in ACT, NSW, QLD and VIC

Queens Birthday

The Queen’s Birthday is a public holiday in Australia and is celebrated in most states and territories on the second Monday in June, but a different date in other states. It is NOT a public holiday in the UK.

Queen’s Birthday 2018

11th Jun 2018 Queen’s Birthday in Australia except QLD & WA
24th Sep 2018 Queen’s Birthday in WA
1st Oct 2018 Queen’s Birthday in QLD

Queen’s Birthday 2019

10th Jun 2019 Queen’s Birthday in Australia except QLD & WA
30th Sep 2019 Queen’s Birthday in WA
7th Oct 2019 Queen’s Birthday in QLD

Australia Day

This day is not shared with the UK.
On January 26, 1788 the First Fleet from the UK landed in Sydney, and this day is currently observed as a National Holiday.

2019 Saturday, 26 Jan 2019 with the Australia Day Holiday observed on Monday 28 Jan 2019
2020 Sunday, 26 Jan with the Australia Day Holiday observed on Monday 27 Jan 2020

ANZAC Day

This day is not shared with the UK.
Anzac Day is public holiday to remember those Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers who have fought and died for their country, and is held on the 25th April each year, with some states/territories moving a weekend date to the following Monday.

2018: Wednesday, 25th April 2018
2019: Thursday, 25th April 2019
2020: Saturday 25th April 2020 for Australia except WA and ACT
2020: Monday 27th April 2020 for WA and ACT
2021: Sunday 25th April 2021 for Australia except WA and ACT
2021: Monday 26th April 2021 for WA and ACT
2022: Monday 25th April 2022