Anzac day 25 April 2010 is a Sunday and Monday the 26th of April is a public holiday in all States of Australia.
Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers in those forces quickly became known as ANZACs, and the pride they took in that name endures to this day.
When war broke out in 1914, Australia had been a federal commonwealth for only 13 years. The new national government was eager to establish its reputation among the nations of the world. In 1915 Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in order to open the Dardanelles to the allied navies. The ultimate objective was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul in Turkey), the capital of the Ottoman Empire, an ally of Germany.
The Australian and New Zealand forces landed on Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders. What had been planned as a bold stroke to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915 the allied forces were evacuated, after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. Over 8,000 Australian soldiers had been killed.
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Australian War Memorial
Sydney's Anzac Day Program
- Sydney's main Dawn Service is held in Martin Place (in the city) and starts at 4.00am. This is followed by the parade at 9am, setting off from the corner of Pitt Street and Martin Place.
- 9am Anzac Day March starting at Martin Pl/George St/Bathurst St/Hyde Park
- 12.30pm a commemorative service will take place at the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park.
- 1:00pm Indigenous ANZAC Day March in Redfern
- 5:00pm Sunset Service at The Cenotaph in Martin Place
Will the Shops be open on Anzac Day?
Most States will require that all stores be closed on the Sunday 25th of April unless they are a small or speciality business such as pharmacies, garden nursuries, hardware and home. Monday is a public holiday and many shops will be open.
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