The traditional Anzac ideals of courage endurance and mateship are still relevant today, established on 25 April 1915 when the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
It was the start of a campaign that lasted eight months and resulted in some 25,000 Australian casualties, including 8,700 killed or subsequently died of wounds or disease.
The men who served on the Gallipoli Peninsula created a legend, adding the word ‘Anzac’ to our vocabulary and creating the notion of the Anzac spirit.
In 1916, the first anniversary of the landing was observed in Australia, New Zealand and England and by troops in Egypt. That year, 25 April was officially named ‘Anzac Day’ by the Acting Prime Minister, George Pearce.
By the 1920s, Anzac Day ceremonies were held throughout Australia. All States had designated Anzac Day as a public holiday. In the 1940s, Second World War veterans joined parades around the country. In the ensuing decades, returned servicemen and women from the conflicts in Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq, plus veterans from allied countries and peacekeepers, joined the parades.
During the 1960s and 1970s, the number of people attending the ceremonies fell as Australians questioned the relevance of Anzac Day. However, in the 1990s there was a resurgence of interest in Anzac Day, with attendances, particularly by young people, increasing across Australia and with many making the pilgrimage to Gallipoli to attend the Dawn Service.
Information provided by the Australian War Memorial
ANZAC Day 2021 Program of Events
After a thorough investigation of the Covid-19 rules and regulations covering the various ANZAC Day Services within the CBD of Newcastle City, the ANZAC Day Committee will not stage the traditional ANZAC Day March and Services. Community safety is first and foremost. However, we would encourage all members of the public to consider one of the following options.
Wednesday 21 April 2021
ANZAC Commemoration Service Christ Church Cathedral
- Time: 11:00am to 1:00pm
- Location: Christ Church Cathedral, Church St NEWCASTLE
- Toilets: Onsite
- Parking: On-Street
- Public Transport: https://www.newcastletransport.info
- Road Closures: Cathedral Car Park Closed
Friday 23 April 2021
Sunset Memorial Walk Service
- Time: 5:00pm to 6:00pm
- Location: Strzelecki Lookout and car park, Shepherds Hill, Memorial Drive
- Toilets: King Edward Park
- Parking: On-street and Bar Beach car park
- Public transport: https://www.newcastletransport.info
- Road Closures: 23 April 2021, 4.45pm to 6.15pm
- Memorial Drive (Fenton Drive and High Street) The Hill
- Memorial Drive (Parkway Avenue and Fenton Drive) The Hill (resident access only)
- High Street (Cliff Street and Lemnos Parade) The Hill
- Limited access into ANZAC Parade at Bingle Street and Kitchener Parade
- Newcastle Memorial Walk closed for the service from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
- Strzelecki Look Our Carpark closed from 12noon to 7:00 pm
Saturday 24 April 2021
War Memorial Grove Candlelight Vigil
- Time: 5:00pm to 6:00pm
- Location: Memorial Grove Civic Park
- Toilets: Civic Park
- Parking: On-street Civic Car Park and Gibson Street Car Park
- Public transport: https://www.newcastletransport.info
- Road Closures: 24 April 2021, 4.00pm to 7.00pm
- Laman St (Darby St and Dawson) Cooks Hill
Sunday 25 April 2021
ANZAC Day Dawn Service (Private Service) NBN Broadcast
- Time 5:00pm to 6:00pm
- Location: NBN Television and Live Stream
- Toilets: NA
- Parking: NA
- Public Transport: NA
- Road Closures: NA
NBN Live Stream
Light Up the Dawn
Light Up the Dawn was an idea that originated within the Australian community and was supported and promoted across Australia in 2020, a year of great challenge and change.
As the sun peeked above the horizon, the country stood united – in uniforms or pyjamas, wearing medals, poppies, and sprigs of rosemary – to let Australia’s veterans know that their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
For more information visit RSLNSW
- Time: 6:00am to 7:00am
- Location: Your Driveway or Front Yard
- Toilets: NA
- Parking: NA
- Pubic Transport: NA
- Road Closure: NA
ANZAC Day March (Postponed)
- Time: NA
- Location: NA
- Parking: NA
- Public Transport: https://www.newcastletransport.info
- Road Closures: NA
United Commemoration Service (Private Service)
- Time 10:00am to 11:00am
- Location: Cenotaph, Civic Park
- Parking: On-street Civic Car Park and Gibson Street Car Park
- Public Transport: https://www.newcastletransport.info
- Road Closures: 25 April 2021, 9:45am to 11:15am
- King St (Darby St and Auckland St)
Fort Scratchley Firing of the Guns and Open Day
- Time: 12:00pm to 4:00pm, Gun Firing: 1:00pm and 3:00pm
- Location: Fort Scratchley, 1 Nobbys Rd NEWCASTLE
- Parking: On-Street, Fort Grounds and Fort Grounds Lower Car Park
- Public Transport: https://www.newcastletransport.info
- Road Closures: NA
Our Supporters
We would like to acknowledge the ongoing support from our long term supporters of the ANZAC Day Events here in Newcastle
How can we have full nrl stadiums, Madi gras, protests and 60,000 people per day at the Easter show, yet we can not have a dawn service of a March? Disgraceful.