Description

This article is from the soc.culture.australian FAQ, by Stephen Wales with numerous contributions by others.

9.2 National Holidays

(a) General Descriptions.

Australia Day: January 26th (holiday often taken on the nearest Monday
to this date to make a long weekend.) Jan 26th 1788 was the day the
First Fleet arrived in Sydney Harbour to establish European
settlement.

Religious holidays:
Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas (Dec 25th), Boxing Day (Dec 26th)

Anzac Day: national holiday, April 25th (if it falls on a Sunday some
states move it to Monday, most don't [JB]?). To remember those who
died serving their country. April 25th, 1915 was the date of the
first landing of ANZACs at Gallipoli.

Other holidays (varies depending on State): New Year's Day (Jan 1st),
- Queen's Birthday (June), Labour Day. Each state also has "Show Day".

(b) Holidays for 1996 [AR]

1 Jan	New Year's Day
10 Jan	Devonport Cup Day Tas
26 Jan	Australia Day
26 Jan	Hobart Cup Day S.Tas
13 Feb	Royal Hobart Regatta S.Tas
28 Feb	Launceston Cup Day N.Tas
4 Mar	Eight Hours Day Tas
4 Mar	Labour Day WA
12 Mar	King Island Show Day Tas
18 Mar	Canberra Day ACT
5 Apr	Good Friday
6 Apr	Easter Saturday Not WA, Vic
8 Apr	Easter Monday
9 Apr	Bank Holiday
25 Apr	Anzac Day
6 May	Labour Day Qld
6 May	May Day NT
20 May	Adelaide Day
3 Jun	Foundation Day WA
10 Jun	Queen's Birthday Not WA
5 Jul	Alice Springs Show Day NT
12 Jul	Tennant Creek Show Day NT
19 Jul	Katherine Show Day NT
26 Jul	Darwin Show Day NT
5 Aug	Bank Holiday NSW
5 Aug	Picnic Day NT
14 Aug	Brisbane Show Day Qld
30 Sep	Queen's Birthday WA
4 Oct	Burnie Show
7 Oct	Labour Day ACT,NSW,SA
10 Oct	Launceston Show Day N.Tas
18 Oct	Flinders Island Show
24 Oct	Hobart Show Day S.Tas
4 Nov	Recreation Day N.Tas
25 Dec	Christmas Day
26 Dec	Boxing Day
26 Dec	Proclamation Day SA

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