Sydney Dawn Service

To mark the time at which the first Australians waded ashore ANZAC Cove in 1915,  thousands of people will gather at the Cenotaph in Martin Place to watch the official NSW ANZAC Day Dawn Service on 25 April at 4.15 am.

The Dawn Service offers quiet contemplation, accompanied by the bugle call of the Last Post and The Ode of Remembrance.

General public information

General public viewing areas will remain open until capacity is reached, and bag checks will be required upon entry to the site. There are three public viewing areas available:

Section A

1. Martin Place outside Challis House
   Seating is available until capacity is reached, once reached standing room will be available until capacity is reached
   Entry via George Street
2. Martin Place at George Street
   Seating is available until capacity is reached
   Entry via George Street

Section B

1. Martin Place between Pitt Street and Castlereagh Street
   Standing only
   Entry via Castlereagh Street
   Please note for the safety of all patrons, bag checks will be conducted on entry.  There is no general public entry via Pitt Street.

Click here for the map of ANZAC Day Dawn Service public access.

Click here for the map of road closures & special event clearways.

Accessibility and Inclusion

To ensure the Dawn Service is accessible to all, designated accessibility viewing areas are available for people with disability and/or limited mobility and their guests.

To register for seating in one of the accessible viewing areas, please contact Karen Wade on accessibility@dpc.nsw.gov.au or call 9228 4613.

The broadcast on ABC TV will include an Auslan sign language interpreter for the Dawn Service, which will start from 4.20am.

Wheelchair accessible/limited mobility/sensory drop-off & pick-up locations have been established, and sign posted at the following locations. These are no parking zones or Special Event Clearways, persons utilising the area will be required to move on as soon as they have dropped off their passengers.

• Wynyard Street, Southern Side (off York Street)
• 21 Elizabeth Street (in front of Commonwealth Bank building) – only available until 5:45am
• 197 Macquarie Street at Martin Place, western side of Macquarie Street (front of St Stephen’s Church)

Portable wheelchair accessible toilets will be located on Pitt Street and Castlereagh Street; otherwise there are wheelchair accessible toilets at the CBD train stations.

As there are large crowds expected, we strongly advise taking this into account before entering the accessible viewing area as it may be difficult to access the toilets once the service has commenced.

Road Closures & Public Transport 

Major road closures will be in place throughout Sydney CBD from 2am until 4pm.

Detailed information and maps of the road closures can be found on livetraffic.com

Special event clearway parking restrictions will also be in effect on most major roads throughout the CDB, meaning street parking will be very limited.

Buses to and from the city will be using alternate routes and stops while road closures are in place.

Please note no light rail services will operate between Town Hall and Circular Quay from 3am to 6.30am.

Travel on public transport is free for members and ex-members of the Australian Defence Force, this also includes their carers; and the spouses, children and grandchildren of deceased service personnel; and the spouses, children and grandchildren of living war veterans.

Free travel recipients are required to wear the Australian Defence Uniform; or display service medals; or carry a letter of accreditation on the letterhead of a branch of the RSL or other recognised ex-services organisation; or present a war widow’s gold card.

This entitlement allows free travel on Anzac Day on the following public transport services:

• Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink Intercity services (bounded by Bomaderry, Nowra, Goulburn, Bathurst, Scone and Dungog stations).
• Sydney metropolitan and outer metropolitan bus services
• Newcastle Transport and regional bus services.
• Sydney Ferries and Newcastle Ferries.
• Sydney and Newcastle Light rail services.

Additional early morning train and bus services will be running and continue throughout the day. Please plan your trip ahead of time by visiting transportnsw.info or call 131 500

For road closure, clearway details and real-time traffic updates, visit livetraffic.com

Media Accreditation

If you are a journalist/producer/camera operator, please complete this form to apply for media accreditation to attend the Dawn Service or March.