For workers and employers across Western Australia, knowing the 2025 public holiday dates prevents scheduling errors and payroll mistakes. The state observes 11 holidays, including the uniquely Western Australian WA Day on 2 June. Here is the complete verified list.
Total public holidays in WA 2025: 11 ·
WA-specific holidays: 1 (WA Day) ·
National holidays observed: 10 ·
Longest holiday weekend: Easter (4 days) ·
Key source: Fair Work Ombudsman
Quick snapshot
- 11 public holidays for WA in 2025 (Fair Work Ombudsman)
- WA Day is Monday, 2 June 2025 (WA Government)
- Easter creates a 4-day weekend (18–21 April) (Fair Work Ombudsman)
- Some regional WA areas observe King’s Birthday on a different date than 29 September (Fair Work Ombudsman)
- Specific substitution dates for regional variations require direct inquiry with WA Department of Local Government (Fair Work Ombudsman)
- Year kicks off with New Year’s Day on 1 January (Wednesday)
- First long weekend: Easter (April 18–21)
- State highlight: WA Day on 2 June (Monday)
- ANZAC Day on 25 April marks the mid-year countdown
- King’s Birthday on 29 September opens the spring break
- End-of-year cluster: Christmas (25 Dec) + Boxing Day (26 Dec)
The table below lists all 11 public holidays for Western Australia in 2025.
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Wednesday, 1 January |
| Australia Day | Monday, 27 January |
| Labour Day | Monday, 3 March |
| Good Friday | Friday, 18 April |
| Easter Sunday | Sunday, 20 April |
| Easter Monday | Monday, 21 April |
| ANZAC Day | Friday, 25 April |
| WA Day | Monday, 2 June |
| King’s Birthday | Monday, 29 September |
| Christmas Day | Thursday, 25 December |
| Boxing Day | Friday, 26 December |
How many public holidays does WA have in 2025?
Western Australia observes 11 public holidays in 2025, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman. Ten of these align with national holidays observed across Australia, while one—WA Day on the first Monday in June—is uniquely Western Australian.
This count differs from some other states: Queensland and New South Wales also have 11, but Victoria has 13 due to additional Melbourne Cup arrangements. Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory also sit at 11.
WA matches the national average on total public holidays. The state’s distinct identity shows in WA Day rather than in volume.
National vs state holidays
Of the 11 holidays, 10 are shared nationally: New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday (noting WA and NT are the only states where Easter Sunday is a public holiday), Easter Monday, ANZAC Day, Labour Day, King’s Birthday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. The lone state-specific addition is WA Day.
Full count breakdown
- January: New Year’s Day (1 Jan) + Australia Day (27 Jan) = 2
- March: Labour Day (3 Mar) = 1
- April: Good Friday (18 Apr) + Easter Sunday (20 Apr) + Easter Monday (21 Apr) + ANZAC Day (25 Apr) = 4
- June: WA Day (2 Jun) = 1
- September: King’s Birthday (29 Sep) = 1
- December: Christmas Day (25 Dec) + Boxing Day (26 Dec) = 2
The implication: April is the heaviest month for public holidays, giving Western Australian workers three long weekends within four weeks.
What date is WA Day public holiday?
WA Day falls on Monday, 2 June 2025. It is celebrated on the first Monday in June each year, commemorating the founding of the Swan River Colony in 1829. The holiday is uniquely Western Australian—neither the national labour movement nor federal records include a equivalent celebration, according to the Western Australian Government.
Workers in other states will not have this day off. If you are coordinating across state borders—whether for business operations, supply chains, or family gatherings—build this date into your planning early.
Date and observance
WA Day is not a celebration of the monarchy or labour movements. Instead, it marks the anniversary of the establishment of the colony by Captain James Stirling. Perth hosts the main community events, but observances occur across the state. For metro and regional WA alike, most government offices and many businesses close for the day.
Regional variations
Unlike the King’s Birthday holiday (see below), WA Day is observed uniformly across all of Western Australia—there are no regional variations on the date. Every local government area recognizes 2 June as the public holiday.
The pattern: WA Day is simpler than King’s Birthday in terms of geographic variation. One date, one state, no complications.
What is the holiday calendar for 2025?
The full 2025 public holiday calendar for Western Australia runs from New Year’s Day on 1 January through to Boxing Day on 26 December. Here is the chronological sequence with verified dates from Fair Work Ombudsman and WA Government.
January to June
- 1 January (Wednesday) — New Year’s Day
- 27 January (Monday) — Australia Day (observed; 26 January is a Sunday)
- 3 March (Monday) — Labour Day
- 18 April (Friday) — Good Friday
- 20 April (Sunday) — Easter Sunday
- 21 April (Monday) — Easter Monday
- 25 April (Friday) — ANZAC Day
- 2 June (Monday) — WA Day
Note: When a public holiday falls on a weekend, WA typically observes the following Monday as the public holiday. This applies to New Year’s Day 2026 and similar cases, but 2025’s Australia Day is already Monday-observed due to 26 January falling on a Sunday.
July to December
- 29 September (Monday) — King’s Birthday
- 25 December (Thursday) — Christmas Day
- 26 December (Friday) — Boxing Day
The catch: After the King’s Birthday in late September, there is a gap of nearly three months before the end-of-year cluster. Workers relying on long weekends may feel this stretch.
The September-to-December gap means businesses in hospitality, retail, and tourism should plan staffing curves carefully—demand drops post-spring long weekend but ramps sharply from mid-November.
What are the Australian holidays for 2025?
Australia’s national public holidays in 2025 that are observed in WA include New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, ANZAC Day, Labour Day, King’s Birthday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. These are set federally but observed by each state and territory independently, which means exact dates can vary slightly.
National holidays
New Year’s Day (1 Jan) and Christmas Day (25 Dec) are fixed. ANZAC Day (25 Apr) is also fixed nationally. The floating holidays—Easter, Labour Day, and King’s Birthday—follow formulas that keep them consistent across most states but not all.
Easter Sunday being a public holiday is notable: WA and NT are the only jurisdictions where it is officially observed as a public holiday, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman. This gives WA and Darwin an extra long weekend day compared to eastern states.
State differences
Victoria observes Melbourne Cup Day (first Tuesday in November) as an additional public holiday not observed in WA. Queensland and NSW do not have this. Conversely, WA’s WA Day is not observed elsewhere.
Labour Day falls on different dates by state: WA has it on 3 March, NSW on 6 October, Victoria on 10 March, and Queensland on 5 May. This matters for businesses operating nationally—payroll, HR systems, and roster planning need state-specific configuration.
What this means: A national employee calendar cannot simply list one set of dates. Each state requires its own schedule.
What major holidays are in 2025?
The major holidays in WA 2025 by impact are the Easter long weekend (18–21 April, a four-day break), ANZAC Day (25 April, solemn commemoration and a Friday off), WA Day (2 June, uniquely Western Australian), and the end-of-year cluster (25–26 December, back-to-back public holidays).
Easter long weekend
Easter 2025 gives Western Australians four consecutive public holidays: Good Friday (18 April), Easter Saturday (19 April, not a public holiday in WA), Easter Sunday (20 April), and Easter Monday (21 April). This is the longest unbroken holiday stretch of the year.
For retail and hospitality, this is peak trading AND staffing challenge simultaneously. According to Fair Work Ombudsman, employees working on public holidays are entitled to penalty rates—typically 250% of ordinary pay for full-time and part-time staff.
End-of-year holidays
Christmas Day (Thursday, 25 December) and Boxing Day (Friday, 26 December) create a two-day cluster. When both fall on weekdays, as they do in 2025, many workers take annual leave to create a longer break. For employers, this means advance notice requirements under the Fair Work Act must be met when rostering staff to work.
The trade-off: Retail and service businesses often see their highest revenue days of the year around this period—but also their highest labour costs due to penalty rates. Planning the roster mix (full-time vs casual) weeks ahead makes the financial difference.
“Western Australia has 11 public holidays in 2025, which is the same as Queensland and NSW but fewer than Victoria.”
— Fair Work Ombudsman (2025 Public Holidays guidance) and WA Government (Public Holidays in Western Australia)
King’s Birthday: regional variations in WA
The King’s Birthday public holiday falls on Monday, 29 September 2025 for most of metropolitan and regional WA. However, this is not universal. Some regional areas observe King’s Birthday on a different date, typically to align with local commemorations or historical patterns, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman.
For specific regional dates, the WA Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety advises direct inquiry at 1300 655 266 or through their official channels.
What this means: Employers with regional WA operations cannot assume the 29 September date applies across all locations. Confirm with local shire offices or the Department before finalising rosters.
Assuming King’s Birthday falls on 29 September for all WA locations could lead to overpaying employees in regional areas—or underpaying them, which triggers compliance risks. Verify each site.
Summary
Western Australia’s 2025 public holiday schedule delivers 11 days off, anchored by the uniquely state-specific WA Day on 2 June and a standout four-day Easter weekend. For employers and payroll teams, the critical operational detail is the King’s Birthday regional variation—29 September applies to most but not all locations. Workers in hospitality, retail, and logistics should confirm penalty rate entitlements before the year begins, and businesses coordinating nationally need to treat each state’s schedule separately rather than applying a single Australian calendar.
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Frequently asked questions
Is New Year’s Day a public holiday in WA 2025?
Yes. New Year’s Day is Wednesday, 1 January 2025. It is one of the 11 public holidays observed in Western Australia for 2025, as listed by the Fair Work Ombudsman.
When is ANZAC Day in WA 2025?
ANZAC Day is Friday, 25 April 2025 in WA. It is a national public holiday observed across all Australian states and territories. The Fair Work Ombudsman confirms this date for Western Australia.
Does WA observe Queen’s Birthday?
WA now observes King’s Birthday following the accession of King Charles III. The King’s Birthday public holiday falls on Monday, 29 September 2025 for most areas, according to Peninsula Australia. Note that some regional WA areas observe this holiday on a different date.
Are there penalties for working on public holidays in WA?
Yes. Under the Fair Work Act, employees working on public holidays in WA are entitled to penalty rates, typically 250% of ordinary hourly pay for full-time and part-time staff. Casual employees usually receive a loading on top of base rates. Exact entitlements depend on the applicable award, enterprise agreement, or employment contract.
What if a public holiday falls on a weekend?
In WA, when New Year’s Day falls on a weekend—as it does on 1 January 2026—the following Monday is typically observed as the public holiday. The Peninsula Australia guidance confirms this substitution practice. For 2025, Australia Day (26 January, Sunday) is observed on Monday, 27 January.
How do public holidays affect school terms in WA?
WA school terms generally align with public holidays, meaning term breaks typically fall around Easter and the end-of-year period. However, term dates are set by the WA Department of Education and may not perfectly mirror public holiday patterns. For the 2025 WA school calendar, consult the WA Department of Education.
Are there additional holidays for metro vs regional WA?
Most public holidays apply uniformly across all of WA. The exception is King’s Birthday, where some regional local government areas may observe different dates. WA Day (2 June) is observed statewide with no regional variations. For regional-specific holiday dates, contact the WA Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety at 1300 655 266.
Rachel Bennett leads fact-checking, source verification and corrections at Australia Current.