ANZAC Day

ANZAC DAY 25th April

Anzac Day is observed annually on April 25th, the anniversary of the Dardanelles Campaign Landing in 1915, and traditionally includes commemorations across Australia, New Zealand and overseas at dedicated war memorials, community precincts and RSL Sub-Branches. Anzac Day is honoured with a national public holiday. The 2024 Anzac Day is on Thursday 25th April.

The Adelaide Anzac Day Committee plans and conducts the Anzac Eve Youth Vigil, Dawn Service, March and Cross of Sacrifice Remembrance Service in Adelaide. We are grateful to the many participants, marshals and volunteers who work to make it a success for everyone to reflect on and pay respects.

Information for Anzac Day 2024 will be added as it becomes available.

SA Anzac Day Commemorations Act 2005

We will remember them

  • Anzac Services

    The 2024 Adelaide Dawn Service at the SA National War Memorial commences at 6am, at the end of the Anzac Eve Youth Vigil.

    Regional and metropolitan organisers conduct Anzac commemorations across South Australia, Northern Territory and Broken Hill. Details will be posted as they become available.

    Anzac Day Services list as at 24.4.24

    Non-Anzac Day services as at 2.4.24

    Anzac Services Notification Form

  • Adelaide Anzac March

    The 2024 Adelaide Anzac Day March details will be available to view here when finalised - Order of March, Assembly Areas Map, Route Map and dispersal information. The march commences at 9:30am from the North Terrace/Gawler Place intersection.

    Adelaide Anzac March Guide - Assembly Areas, Order of March, March Route, Dispersals, Information

    It is important to note that the Anzac Day March in Adelaide is a commemorative march and not a parade - Statement of March Principles.

  • CROSS OF SACRIFICE REMEMBRANCE SERVICE

    The traditional Service of Remembrance is held at the Cross of Sacrifice in Pennington Gardens, North Adelaide, shortly after the Anzac Day March concludes. Public attendance is welcomed and encouraged.

    This service provides a significant finale to the commemorations, with the Dawn Service representing a funeral, the March representing the walk to the grave site and the service at the Cross of Sacrifice representing the burial.

    The Cross of Sacrifice Memorial, dedicated in 1922, stands in gardens opposite St Peters Cathedral and commemorates the men and women who died during the Great War 1914 – 1919. An Ataturk Tribute and Eternal Flame also feature in the garden.

  • ANZAC YOUTH VIGILS

    The RSL SA Anzac Eve Youth Vigil (Adelaide) is a youth inspired activity, since 1999, that has become the first ceremony of remembrance for Anzac Day in South Australia.

    With differing backgrounds and interests, young Australians representing a variety of service and community groups, conduct a formal ‘Holding Ground’ Ceremony, a night-long, guard of honour around the historic South Australian National War Memorial, corner of North Terrace and Kintore Avenue, Adelaide, from 6.00pm Anzac Eve to approximately 6.00am Anzac morning.

    In doing so, the youth have created their own Anzac Day tradition. The evening Dedication Ceremony on 24th April is attended by invited guests, youth group organisers and families. Just prior to dawn the youth guards stepped down and the Dawn Service followed

    More information: https://www.rslsa.org.au/anzac-youth-vigil-adelaide

    RSL SA Anzac Eve Youth Vigil Facebook

    Vigils are also held in regional and metropolitan areas.

  • Anzac On Torrens

    On Anzac Day, the RSL is hosting Anzac on Torrens – a comradeship event for veterans, their families, supporters, and the public, on Torrens Parade Ground. Catching-up with old mates, and making new ones, is an integral part of Anzac Day.
    Straight after the Dawn Service, around 7:00am the event will begin with a traditional gunfire breakfast for purchase, provided by Adelaide Lions, kicking-off straight after the State Dawn Service concludes around 7:00 am. Breakfast will consist of bacon and egg rolls and a cup of tea or brewed coffee.
    From 10:00 am Anzac on Torrens will really kick-off as the first marchers return. Adelaide Lions will be providing a barbeque lunch for purchase – and a choice of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will be available from marquees staffed by the State RSL, Legacy, and the Combined Ex-Services Mess.
    A traditional Two-up ring will be in operation to add to the atmosphere. There will be shelter and chairs on the parade ground, and Coast FM 88.7 will conduct a live broadcast from the event for the first time.
    The Legacy Café inside the Drill Hall, a seated café, for hot drinks and sweet treats – and will also include a children’s activity area.

  • Conducting a Commemoration

    RSL SA offers this guide to conducting a personal remembrance service. It contains links to bugle calls and music to complement your words.

    Introduction: Use your own words of reflection, name people you remember today, give gratitude for those who served and sacrificed, and to those still serving in defence of our nation.

    Read the Anzac Requiem
    Recite the Ode:
    They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
    Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
    At the going down of the sun and in the morning
    We will remember them.

    Play The Last Post
    Minute of Silence
    Play Rouse
    Recite: Lest We Forget
    Play New Zealand National Anthem
    Play Australian National Anthem
    Conclusion

    You may add prayers, hymns, readings and personal content to reflect your beliefs. Bugle calls and music are thanks to www.anzacportal.dva.gov.au

    Australian Flag Protocols In accordance with Australian flag protocol, the Australian National Flag should be flown at half-mast on Anzac Day from dawn until noon in your locality, at which time the flag should be raised to the peak of the flag mast for the remainder of the day.

  • ANZAC APPEAL

    Please help us continue to support veterans.
    Your donation allows the RSL to provide services to the needs of our current and former service women and men, and their families.

    Examples include:

    Crisis accommodation for at risk veterans

    Financial assistance for families in need - grocery vouchers, bill payment

    Health and wellbeing programs

    Employment support

    Assistance with accessing benefits and entitlements from military service

    The Anzac Appeal donation portal is hosted by RSL Victoria and funds raised are shared back to the donors’ nominated state.

  • Peter Badcoe VC Medal

    Sports

    In South Australia timings and playing of sporting activities and Two Up on Anzac Day are regulated by the ANZAC Day Commemoration Act 2005

    AFL 26/4/2024 Port Adelaide v St Kilda, Adelaide Oval, 7:10pm

    SANFL 25/4/2024 Glenelg v Sturt, Glenelg Oval 2:10pm

    Horse Racing 25/4/2024 Gawler Racecourse

  • Adelaide Public Transport

    Adelaide Metro will provide public transport to and from the city for Anzac Day memorial services on Thursday 25 April 2024. This will include the Anzac Day Dawn Service, Commemorative March and the Commemorative Service.

    Free travel is available on all Adelaide Metro bus, trains and trams on Anzac Day for:
    Past and present military personnel who are wearing uniform.
    People wearing service medals.
    People carrying a Department of Veteran’s Affairs or ex-service organisation identification card.

    Bus, train and tram services will operate to a Sunday and public holiday timetable. Additional bus, train and tram services will operate on the day.

    A free and fully accessible Adelaide Metro Digger Shuttle Bus will run clockwise from the National War Memorial on North Terrace to Victoria Square. This service will run every 15 minutes after the Anzac Day March from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. See map on this page.

    Additional information: https://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/about-us/news/news-items/2024/anzac-day-2024

  • FREE CITY LOOP SHUTTLE BUS

    A free and fully accessible Adelaide Metro Digger Shuttle Bus will run clockwise from the National War Memorial on North Terrace to Victoria Square. This service will run every 15 minutes after the Anzac Day March from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm.

Resources

Australian Flag Protocols

RSL Medal Compliance Guide

ADF Ceremonial Request form online and manual application

If you have a family member with Active Service in the Australian military you may be interested in adding their profile to the Virtual War Memorial Australia website.

 ANZAC APPEAL

RSL Veterans Services relies upon public donations to continue assisting veterans, their families and Defence personnel with advocacy, emergency accommodation, bill payment, grocery vouchers and wellbeing programs .