Anzac Day in Christmas Island

Public holiday and weekend observance

Christmas Island applies the Western Australian Public and Bank Holidays Act 1972. The Act names Anzac Day on 25 April as a public and bank holiday and provides that the following Monday is also a public and bank holiday when 25 April falls on a Saturday or Sunday.[1][2]

For employees covered by Australia’s National Employment Standards, a public holiday brings a right to be absent from work, subject to workplace rules about reasonable requests to work. The holiday does not mean every workplace must close, so check directly with a service or business before making plans.[5]

Remembrance on the island

Christmas Island’s local commemorations include a dawn service at the War Memorial at Tai Jin House. An official community notice also recorded a shared breakfast after the service, including halal and non-halal options. These details document a past event and should not be taken as a current year’s programme.[4]

The island’s broader connection to the day includes residents’ contributions to Australia’s national service and the Indian Ocean Territories’ wartime history, as described by the territories’ Administrator. The commemoration honours those who have served and continue to serve in Australia’s defence forces.[3]

The history behind Anzac Day

Anzac Day marks the 25 April 1915 landing of Australian and New Zealand forces on Gallipoli during the First World War. The landing met Ottoman resistance, and the campaign lasted eight months before Allied troops were evacuated. The day later broadened into a commemoration of Australians who died in later wars and military and peacekeeping operations.[6]

Planning your day

A dawn service can affect early morning travel around its venue. A past Christmas Island notice directed attendees to park in the Flying Fish Cove precinct and walk to the memorial, with courtesy transport available for people who needed assistance. Check local notices for current access and transport arrangements.[4]

Public and bank holiday status does not establish that every shop, restaurant, transport service or visitor facility will close or keep regular hours. Opening arrangements can vary; contact the business or service directly before relying on it.[1][5]