SA Public Holidays 2024

South Australian / SA Public Holidays 2024

SA public holidays notes

Every Sunday is prescribed as a public holiday under The Holidays Act 1910 (SA).
If New Year’s Day, Australia Day, ANZAC Day and Christmas Day fall on a Sunday there is to be an additional public holiday on the following Monday.
If 26 December occurs on a Sunday the additional Boxing Day/Proclamation Day public holiday is prescribed for the following Tuesday (due to the Christmas Day public holiday occupying the Monday). The Sunday is still deemed to be a public holiday in these instances by virtue of all Sundays being prescribed as a public holiday.
* Part-day holiday from 7 pm to midnight

South Australian Government website

South Australian public and bank holidays are prescribed by the Holidays Act 1910.

SA public holidays are administered by Safework SA.

What to know about SA public holidays

There are thirteen South Australian public holidays observed each year. This includes a range of twelve official national public holidays along with one that is unique to South Australia.

Public holidays that are unique to SA

• Adelaide Cup Day

Note: King’s Birthday holiday is also known as Volunteer’s Day and Boxing Day is also known as Proclamation Day. These two holidays per se are not unique to SA.

SA Adelaide Cup Day public holiday

Adelaide Cup Day is a public holiday that is unique to South Australia. It conveniently provides a long weekend. It is a Group 2 handicap thoroughbred horse race, run by the South Australian Jockeys Club at Morphettville racecourse. The event was first held in 1864.

Adelaide Cup Day is held on the second Monday of March each year. Adelaide Cup Day public holiday is Monday, 13th March, 2023.

SA King’s Birthday / Volunteers Day

This holiday is a movable celebration of the birth of King Charles III, the head of state of Australia and of the Commonwealth.

Proclamation Day

Proclamation Day replaces Boxing Day in South Australia. It celebrates the arrival of 8 British ships to Adelaide and the subsequent proclamation of South Australia as a province of the British Empire on 28th December 1836.

South Australia regional public holiday dates

South Australia is one of few states and territories without regional holidays.

The timing of South Australia public holidays

Adelaide Cup Day provides a long weekend in the middle of Term 1 school holidays.

SA King’s Birthday / Volunteers Day acts as a marker for the commencement of the ski season in Australia, though SA has no ski fields.

Visiting SA during a public holiday

The best time to visit SA is in February – March. This coincides with Adelaide Cup Day. The Fringe Festival, car races, and the Tour Downunder makes the CBD particularly busy during this period. Booking accommodation in advance will help ease the price pain.

Why are Mother’s Day and Father’s Day not listed as public holidays in South Australia?

Both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are Observances rather than public holidays for South Australians. Unfortunately, South Australians do not receive a legislated holiday or day off in lieu.

Important: Whilst all care is taken to ensure the data presented here is accurate, content published on this page is subject to change at any time without notice and may be inaccurate at the time you view it. The Champagne Mile will not be held accountable for informational and technical inaccuracies or errors. Site users are encouraged to cross-reference the information presented on this site with official Australian and state/territory government source websites.

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