Dawn Service

Prior to the Dawn Service

From April 23 until the commencement of the Dawn Service on Anzac Day, images of Australian servicemen and servicewomen from a variety of actions and battles across the history of Australia’s Military Service will be projected for two evenings onto the Memorial’s façade. The final 15 minutes of projections will focus on contemporary conflicts and include images from renowned photographer Gary Ramage.

From 4.30am, excerpts from the letters and diaries of Australians who experienced war firsthand will be read aloud by a representative from each of the armed forces. Following these readings all will be quiet before the commencement of the Dawn Service.

Dawn Service

5.30 am to 6 am

This year’s Dawn Service Address will be delivered by retired Colonel Susan Neuhaus CSC, who served in the Regular Army and Army Reserve, with deployments to Cambodia, Bougainville and Afghanistan, over a career spanning 20 years.

The Australian War Memorial hosts the Dawn Service in close cooperation with the Returned and Services League of Australia ACT.

Anzac Day Dawn Service Order of Service

Download (PDF file)

Visitor information and site safety

The Dawn Service is a standing ceremony conducted in the dark prior to sunrise; accordingly, the weather is likely to be cold and we encourage visitors to dress for the conditions.
We ask all visitors to be aware of their surroundings as the grounds can be uneven and may be icy or slippery in the early hours of the morning. We therefore advise caution when entering the Memorial grounds and when moving around the site.
You should allow plenty of time to travel safely to the Memorial. Use of public transport is recommended.
A free shuttle service is available. Register to Ride or call 13 17 10 for further information.
Those planning on walking to the Memorial via Anzac Parade should keep to the footpaths and remain off the road as the shuttle buses will be in operation.
On-site lighting is provided until 5.15 am.

Seating

There is no allocated seating for the Dawn Service. Visitors are welcome to occupy the seating put in place for the National Ceremony, or stand on the Parade Ground. Visitors will be required to vacate this seating at the conclusion of the Dawn Service.

Road Closures

Road closures will be in effect from 2am until 3pm.

Traffic from Limestone Avenue diverts onto Treloar Crescent
Traffic from Fairbairn Avenue diverts onto Treloar Crescent
Anzac Parade closed from Constitution Avenue including the Blamey Crescent and Currong Street intersection

Parking

There is limited parking onsite for mobility impaired visitors only. Vehicles displaying a government issued disability parking permit will be granted access. Parking is filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Access to car parks is via Treloar Crescent.

Public Transport

The Australian War Memorial and Transport Canberra will be providing free bus services to and from the Dawn Service and National Ceremony. For information and to register to ride please go to
www.transport.act.gov.au/news-and-events/items/april-2018/anzac-day or call 13 17 10.

Community Groups

The Memorial is now taking expressions of interest from community groups who would like to be involved in providing refreshments for the 2018 Anzac Day Dawn Service.

The period for these expressions has now closed.

Please check this webpage regularly for further updates closer to the date.

For further enquiries please email: ceremony@awm.gov.au

Anzac Day at the Memorial Official Photographs and Video

Official photographs of all Anzac Day commemorations are available for viewing, downloading and ordering on the Australian War Memorial's Flickr page. Official video recording of commemorations are available for viewing on the Australian War Memorial You Tube channel.