Australia people: Holidays

Public holidays vary quite a bit from state to state. Here is a list of the main national and state public holidays:

Australia National Holidays
New Year's Day - 1 January
Australia Day - 26 January
Easter (Good Friday, and Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday) - March/April
Anzac Day - 25 April
Queen's Birthday (except WA) - 2nd Monday in June
Queen's Birthday (WA) - 1st Monday in October
Christmas Day - 25 December
Boxing Day - 26 December
ACT holidays
Canberra Day - March
Bank Holiday - 1st Monday in August
Labor Day - 1st Monday in October
New South Wales holidays
Bank Holiday - 1st Monday in August
Labor Day - 1st Monday in October
Northern Territory holidays
Northern Territory May Day - 1 May
Alice Springs Show Day - 1st Friday in July
Katherine Show Day - 3d Friday in July
Darwin Show Day - 4th Friday in July
Picnic Day - 1st Monday in August
Queensland holidays
Labor Day - 1 May
RNA Show Day (Brisbane) - August
South Australia holidays
Adelaide Cup Day - May
Labor Day - 1st Monday in October
Proclamation Day - Last Tuesday in December
Tasmania holidays
Regatta Day - 14 February
Eight Hours Day - 1st Monday in March
Bank Holiday - April
Launceston Show Day - October
Hobart Show Day - October
Recreation Day - 1st Monday in November
Victoria holidays
Labor Day - 2nd Monday in March
Bank Holiday - April
Melbourne Cup Day - 1st Tuesday in November
Western Australia holidays
Labor Day - 1st Monday in March
Foundation Day-1st Monday in June

Notes Australia Day - this national holiday, observed on 26 January, commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet, in 1788.

Anzac Day - this national public holiday on 25 April commemorates the landing of Anzac troops at Gallipoli in 1915. Memorial marches by the returned soldiers of both world wars and the veterans of Korea and Vietnam are held all over the country.

Melbourne Cup - (Victoria) on the first Tuesday in November Australia's premier horse race is run at Flemington Racecourse. It's a public holiday in Melbourne but the whole country comes to a virtual standstill for the three minutes or so when the race is on.