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What’s closed and what shops are open on Anzac Day in Australia?

Pharmacies and petrol stations are among the essential services that will remain open on Saturday across much of the country.

New South Wales has some of the strictest rules after the NSW government in 2024 moved to fight the “creeping commercialisation of Anzac Day”.

Here’s a rundown of each state and territory.

NSW Anzac Day opening hours

Coles, Woolworths and Bunnings will be closed across NSW on Anzac Day, owing to the Retail Trading Amendment (Anzac Day Trading Hours) Act, which restricts supermarkets and department stores from operating.

Liquor stores Dan Murphy’s, BWS, Liquorland and Vintage Cellars will also be closed.

The state minister for veterans, David Harris, said last year that restricting trading on Anzac Day would “allow workers and businesses to pay their respects to those who have served and sacrificed protecting our country and helps ensure the sanctity of remembrance is given the status it deserves”.

Takeaway stores, cafes, seafood stores, nurseries, florists, news agencies and licensed venues are allowed to operate.

Victoria opening hours

All Coles in Victoria will be shut until 1pm on Anzac Day, as will the bigger Woolworths stores. Smaller Woolies will be open with reduced trading hours, consistent with the state’s Shop Trading Reform Act and the Anzac Day Act.

Shops exempt from the requirement to remain closed until 1pm include those with “20 or fewer persons employed in the shop at any time on a restricted trading day”.

Cinema screenings, live dance, music events, concerts, plays and auctions also cannot take place before 1pm in Victoria.

But similar to NSW, smaller convenience stores, takeaway outlets, cafes, restaurants, petrol stations and chemists can operate all day.

Queensland opening hours

All Coles across Queensland and the majority of Woolworths will be shut in the state on Anzac Day as per the Trading (Allowable Hours) Act, which prohibits major retailers from opening.

Smaller food purveyors – such as independent grocers and takeaway stores – can open, but independent retail stores must remain shut until 1pm.

Amusement parks, sporting events and cinemas are not permitted to open until 1.30pm unless given approval by the state government.

Western Australia opening hours

Coles stores will be shut except the following, which will be open from 1pm: Chinatown, Kununurra, Vasse, Busselton, Dunsborough, Margaret River, Eaton Fair, Busselton Central, Pinjarra, Karratha, Tom Price, Dalyellup, Albany, South Hedland and Orana.

As for Woolworths, most stores will be closed across Western Australia.

All Bunnings stores except Bayswater, Cannington, Armadale, Kalgoorlie and Bunbury will be open on Anzac Day, while cafes and service stations are free to trade.

South Australia opening hours

Most Coles stores in South Australia will be shut except the following, which will be open from noon: Port Lincoln, Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Adelaide Rundle Place, Whyalla, Murray Bridge Green, Mount Gambier, Victor Harbor, Mount Barker, and Berri.

The majority of Woolworths stores will be closed across South Australia.

Smaller stores, including pharmacies, can operate as normal, while larger retailers in Adelaide may opt for reduced trading hours.

Tasmania opening hours

All Coles stores in Tasmania will be closed until 1pm consistent with the Anzac Day Observance Act 1929, while the majority of Woolworths stores will be open with reduced trading hours.

Newsagencies, pharmacies, liquor stores, hospitality venues and petrol stations are among the businesses free to operate.

ACT opening hours

All Coles stores will be closed until 1pm, while most Woolworths stores will be closed.

All Bunnings stores will be open with restricted trading hours, however.

NT opening hours

All Coles and the majority of Woolworths will be shut across the Northern Territory until noon.

On Monday 27 April, businesses can operate as normal in NSW, the ACT and WA (where it’s a public holiday) as well as in Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, SA and the NT (where there is no public holiday).

However, some Woolworths across the nation will reduce operating hours on Monday.