Australians gather to commemorate Anzac Day 2025
Thousands of Australians will gather in the dark this morning at the Australian War Memorial for the Anzac Day Dawn Service, commemorating the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing.
This service will be one of hundreds across the nation commemorating Anzac Day, and those who have served the nation in times of peace and war.
Wreaths have been laid at the Cenotaph at Martin Place in Sydney as part of the Dawn Service, and both English and traditional Maori hymns sung to commemorate Australia and New Zealand’s soldiers.
Dawn services are also taking place at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and Brisbane.
Anzac Day falls on the 25th of April each year as it was the day Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition which tried to capture the Gallipoli peninsula.
These soldiers became known as the Anzacs.
The Anzacs landed on Gallipoli at the crack of dawn and met fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders.
It was meant to be a quick battle, but the campaign dragged on for eight months and over 8,000 Australian soldiers were killed.
The Gallipoli campaign failed, but the traits shown by the Anzacs – bravery, ingenuity, endurance and mateship – have become enshrined as defining aspects of the Australian character.
The meaning of Anzac Day today has now evolved to the remembrance of all Australians killed in military operations.
After the dawn services, marches, and other commemorative events will also be held.
Both Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton will suspend campaigning for the day out of respect, but will be attending commemoration services.
The Prime Minister is currently in Canberra for the national service, and the Opposition Leader will attend a service in his north Brisbane electorate of Dickson.