ANZAC Day 2025: Honouring service, sharing stories
Wednesday, 23 April 2025
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'Lest We Forget' ANZAC Day is marked on 25 April.
ANZAC Day will be observed on Friday 25 April 2025, marking a national day of remembrance for Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in war, conflict, and peacekeeping operations.
What is ANZAC Day?
Held on the 25 April in Australia and New Zealand, the first ANZAC Day ceremonies were held in 1916 which originally marked the landing day of Australian and New Zealand forces in Gallipoli, Turkey in 1915 during the First World War. The acronym stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
ANZAC Day Services
Services will be held in across Australia in suburbs and towns. You can find out about the different services and events being held around Western Australia at the RSLWA website.
In Perth thousands of people will gather at dawn at the War Memorial in Kings Park to pay their respects to people who have served in the armed forces. Kings Park will also host a Sunset Service on 24 April, for those who find the traditional Dawn Service a challenge to attend. The inclusive service will include audio description, wheelchair access and ACROD parking, AUSLAN and quiet space facilities.
An Indigenous ANZAC Day Service will take place at Supreme Court Gardens at 11.00am. Ngarla Maumahara - Our Remembrance is the only Indigenous ANZAC Day Service in Western Australia.
Learn more about ANZAC Day
They Served with Honours
In 2015, a new book highlighted the role Aboriginal men from Western Australia played in World War I, They Served With Honours shares the stories of untold stories of Indigenous men who served at Gallipoli.
Gallipoli (1980 film)
Peter Weir's 1980 film Gallipoli is credited with changing the national conversation about the historic conflict. It was one of the first film successes for actor Mel Gibson, and also starred veteran actor Bill Kerr - who lived in Perth in his latter years. The film is available to rent on Amazon Prime.
Anzac biscuits
Making Anzac biscuits is one tradition that Australians use to commemorate Anzac day. The biscuit that most of us know is a sweet biscuit made from rolled oats and golden syrup, but it's a bit different to the staple of soldiers' and sailors' rations, the hardtack biscuit. You can read all about the history of the Anzac biscuit on the Australian War Memorial website.
ECU will be closed on ANZAC Day
Friday 25 April will be a public holiday which is observed by the university. Campus Libraries will be closed, however staff and students have the option to swipe into JO31 Library levels 1 and 2 using their ECU access card. You can find out more about the Library opening hours here.