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Starting in 2023, Australians celebrate the official birthday of their king, Charles III. The holiday falls on the second Monday in June in most areas—though there are exceptions.
King's Birthday is a public holiday in 6 states, 2 external territories and 2 territories, where it is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed.
On King’s Birthday, Australians mark the official birthday of Charles III of the United Kingdom. Australia is a constitutional monarchy with the King or Queen of the UK acting as the head of state.
Until 2022, the holiday was known as Queen’s Birthday and dedicated to Queen Elizabeth II.
After her death, King Charles III ascended to the British throne, which also made him Head of the Commonwealth and King of Australia.
NEWS: Queen’s death impacts holiday schedules worldwide
In most Australian states and territories, King’s Birthday falls on the second Monday in June—on the same date as the United Kingdom. However, two states have decided to move the holiday to a different date to avoid clashes with other state holidays:
With the holiday falling on different dates throughout the country, it must be noted that it doesn’t fall on the king’s actual birthday. Charles III was born on November 14, 1948.
The official date was set to June to increase the chance of fair weather during the birthday celebrations in the United Kingdom. In the Northern Hemisphere, June is the first month of summer, and it is one of the driest and warmest months of the year in London.
In Australia, on the other hand, June marks the beginning of winter and it is one of the coolest and wettest months.
Most Australians have the day off on King’s Birthday, and since it falls on a Monday, it usually creates a long weekend.
For many, it is a chance to do something with their family or to visit a sporting event. Some people take advantage of the three-day weekend to make trips to visit friends or relatives.
Some well-known sporting events are held on King’s Birthday. These include an Australian Football League game played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between the Collingwood Magpies and the Melbourne Demons.
The King’s Birthday was first celebrated in Australia in 1788. In that year, Governor Arthur Phillip declared a holiday to mark King George III’s birthday.
Originally, the holiday fell on a monarch’s actual birthday. However, after the death of King George V in 1936, the date remained close to his birthday, which was June 3.
Year | Weekday | Date | Name | Holiday Type | Area |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Mon | Sep 26 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | Western Australia |
2023 | Tue | Jun 6 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | Cocos and Keeling Islands |
2023 | Mon | Jun 12 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | ACT, Heard and McDonald Islands, NSW, NT, SA, Tas, Vic |
2023 | Mon | Sep 25 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | Western Australia |
2023 | Mon | Oct 2 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | Queensland |
2024 | Thu | Jun 6 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | Cocos and Keeling Islands |
2024 | Mon | Jun 10 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | ACT, Heard and McDonald Islands, NSW, NT, SA, Tas, Vic |
2024 | Mon | Sep 23 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | Western Australia |
2024 | Mon | Oct 7 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | Queensland |
2025 | Mon | Jun 9 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | ACT, Heard and McDonald Islands, NSW, NT, SA, Tas, Vic |
2025 | Mon | Jun 9 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | Cocos and Keeling Islands |
2025 | Mon | Sep 29 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | Western Australia |
2025 | Mon | Oct 6 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | Queensland |
2026 | Sat | Jun 6 | King's Birthday (Tentative Date) | Common State holiday | Cocos and Keeling Islands |
2026 | Mon | Jun 8 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | ACT, Heard and McDonald Islands, NSW, NT, SA, Tas, Vic |
2026 | Mon | Sep 28 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | Western Australia |
2026 | Mon | Oct 5 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | Queensland |
2027 | Sun | Jun 6 | King's Birthday (Tentative Date) | Common State holiday | Cocos and Keeling Islands |
2027 | Mon | Jun 14 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | ACT, Heard and McDonald Islands, NSW, NT, SA, Tas, Vic |
2027 | Mon | Sep 27 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | Western Australia |
2027 | Mon | Oct 4 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | Queensland |
2028 | Tue | Jun 6 | King's Birthday (Tentative Date) | Common State holiday | Cocos and Keeling Islands |
2028 | Mon | Jun 12 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | ACT, Heard and McDonald Islands, NSW, NT, SA, Tas, Vic |
2028 | Mon | Sep 25 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | Western Australia |
2028 | Mon | Oct 2 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | Queensland |
2029 | Wed | Jun 6 | King's Birthday (Tentative Date) | Common State holiday | Cocos and Keeling Islands |
2029 | Mon | Jun 11 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | ACT, Heard and McDonald Islands, NSW, NT, SA, Tas, Vic |
2029 | Mon | Sep 24 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | Western Australia |
2029 | Mon | Oct 1 | King's Birthday | Common State holiday | Queensland |
While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.
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