Anzac Day commemorations turned rowdy on Monday as Australians poured out of pubs and clubs a little worse for wear after a long day which began with the traditional dawn service.
From about midday, as hotels were able to serve alcohol, hundreds of thousands of punters flocked to their locals for a traditional game of two-up and to share a drink with mates.
The festivities went well into the evening with friends seen staggering out of venues around midnight, singing, dancing and embracing in the street.
Punters made up for lost time with the public holiday marking the return of full-scale Anzac Day commemorations after two years of disruptions, with the Covid pandemic limiting large gatherings.
Solemn Anzac Day dawn services and marches gave way to rowdy behaviour on Monday with crowds such as those at The Rocks in Sydney enjoying an end to Covid restrictions (pictured outside the Glenmore Hotel)
Spirits were hight as one partygoer amused her friends by dancing as the crowds spilled into the street (pictured)
After two years of rules preventing gatherings and with many pubs closed for long periods, the crowd seemed to be enjoying the special day
Uniformed servicemen and woman mingled with each other (pictured) and civilians in The Rocks in Sydney
Two military personnel appeared to opt for water as the exited a venue in the Sydney CBD on Monday
Thousands packed into dawn services across the nation, including at Martin Place in Sydney, Currumbin on the Gold Coast and Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance, to pay respect to service men and women.
Afterwards, pubs, cafes, clubs and RSLs were heaving with revellers and those just looking to enjoy the public holiday.
Men and woman in uniform mingled with civilians and diggers reunited and shared tales over a beer.
As the night progressed crowds spilled into the streets, but the revelry didn’t stop with partygoers milling and socialising outside of venues.
The Rocks in Sydney was flooded with hundreds of beaming punters, some pictured taking a breather on sidewalks while others danced nearby, or even snuck a kiss.
Near the Argyle Hotel in the Rocks crowds poured into the street, some coupled up (pictured)
One man couldn’t contain his excitement, gesturing wildly to his mates outside the Glenmore Hotel in Sydney
Crowds got rowdy with one man unable to decide if he wanted to wear his shirt or not (pictured)
A woman vapes and chats with a uniformed serviceman outside the Argyle Hotel in Sydney
Two revellers take a breather on some milk crates before they venture home for the night (pictured)
Anzac Day events proved popular this year with an estimated crowd of 18,200 turning out for the early ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
In Melbourne, about 50,000 people gathered at the Shrine of Remembrance at dawn.
In Western Australia a bugle welcomed the dawn at the State War Memorial after three years.
But only a few hundred people attended the invite-only dawn service, which was limited by the state’s Covid rules.
In Tasmania, almost 3,000 people were at Hobart’s dawn service, a crowd approaching 2019 levels.
Darwin’s dawn service hosted Scott Morrison who is campaigning in the NT with deputy Labor leader Richard Marles, with Anthony Albanese in Covid isolation.
Other partygoers needed a break from standing as they waited for Ubers or friends to give them a ride
Patrons can be seen on the upper level of the Glenmore Hotel with an Australian flag draped over the balcony
Some of those in uniform were seen relaxing in the street outside one venue as the night drew to a close
2022 marks the first year since 2019 in which Anzac Day commemorations were not impacted by Covid rules
One woman rests against a car as she waits outside pubs with a male friend at the Rocks in Sydney (pictured)
Mr Morrison followed up his dawn service with some two-up at Cazalys Palmerston Club where he kicked off the first round of the traditional game as the spinner.
The PM won on his third try pocketing the winnings from his $10 bet before sipping on a Balter XPA and mingling with Territory locals.
He then jumped behind the bar and poured schooners of Great Northern and Carlton Dry to the amusement of patrons.
‘He’s not too bad at it!’ one exclaimed.
Meanwhile, the Labor frontbencher shouted locals pints of Great Northern at the iconic Darwin Hotel.
Thousands of Aussies have packed into pubs across Australia to play two-up and drink VB after attending ANZAC DAY services
Hello sailor! A punter dressed as a sailor shows off his cash after playing a successful game of two -up in Sydney
Sydneysiders chug VB and smash down some food at a pub in the city on Monday to commemorate ANZAC Day
A group of men take selfies as they enjoy some drinks on a balcony, which was decorate with the Australian flag
One reveller wearing war medals scaled the roof of the Mercantile Hotel while holding a wad of cash – potentially winnings from two-up
Earlier in Sydney, throngs of revellers piled into pubs throughout the CBD to try their luck at the traditional Australian gambling game of two-up.
Rowdy punters could be seen gathering around spinners as they tossed the coins in the air, with the victors cheering as soon as their winning bid landed on the ground.
Spirits were high among pub goers as they sank drinks, mingled with friends, and won wads of cash from midday into the afternoon.
One group of men dressed as sailors embraced after placing successful bets in two-up at the Australian Heritage Hotel, in Sydney’s CBD.
Rowdy punters cheer as they play rounds of two up at the Australian Heritage Hotel on Monday
A woman holds out cash as she makes a bet on a game of two-up at the Woolpack Hotel in Redfern
A group of men wearing sailor outfits embrace and cheer as they drink VB after placing successful bets during two-up
Meanwhile, at another bar in the Rocks, women could be seen excitedly waving their cash in the air at the spinner as they yelled out their bets.
But while many will go home winners, some will be waking up with sore heads.
One man wearing war medals scaled the roof of the Mercantile Hotel in the rocks, giving bystanders a peace sign as he clasped a handful of cash.
A group of women smile for the camera as they enjoy drinks in Sydney’s CBD after ANZAC Day commemorations
A cashed-up man smiles as he clasps his winnings while a mate whispers – presumably betting tips – in his ear
A group of women feast on some burgers as they enjoy some drinks at a bar in the city for the public holiday
Bemused by the stunt, pubgoers gathered around and pulled out their phones to record.
But shortly after standing up, the man buckled to his knees and was left precariously teetering on the edge of the gutter.
While a joyous atmosphere filling the afternoon, the day began with sombre scenes around the country.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison led commemorations in Darwin, where he used his address to warn Australians of a ‘changing of the world’ amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and China’s new security pact with Solomon Islands.
Aussies were all smiles as they sank drinks and gambled for traditional ANZAC Day commemorations on Monday
Service woman Danielle Watson participates in a game of two-up on Anzac Day at the Kings Cross Hotel
Two women pose for a photo as they enjoy some glasses of beer in a packed bar in The Rocks on Monday
‘War does strike Europe again, coercion troubles our region once more, an arc of autocracy is challenging the rules-based order our grandparents secured and democratic free peoples are standing together again,’ the Prime Minister said.
‘In facing this world, we must remember again, it is only then we truly appreciate what these times require of us all.’
Mr Morrison reminded Australians they are one and free because of the sacrifices of servicemen and women who fought for their country as he reiterated the nation’s united stance with Ukraine.
‘To veterans and all serving Australians with us today, we owe a debt and sense of gratitude that we can never express fully enough,’ he said.
VB was a popular choice for revellers, with many pouring the signature Australian beverage from cans into plastic cups
Women yell out the bets and hold up cash as they engage in busy two up festivities at a bar in Sydney’s CBD
An eager crowd watches on in anticipation as spinners toss coins into the air at the Glenmore Hotel
‘We gather at this dawn to remember, to reflect and rededicate ourselves.’
‘As General Jim Molan, our colleague in the Parliament, who said ‘it takes a nation to defend a nation’.
‘And what ultimately matters in that task is a people with a fierce and protective love of their nation and their liberty. A love of home, family, community and country.
‘A willingness to live for all of these things that are necessary to sacrifice for something far greater than themselves.
‘This morning far away from here, the people of Ukraine are doing exactly that. And on this particular day, as we honour those who fought for our liberty and freedom, we stand with the people of Ukraine who do the same thing at this very moment.’
A man and service woman sit down in the street to have a rest after leaving pub festivities for ANZAC Day
Two women walk between ANZAC Day commemorations at pubs in Sydney’s CBD on Monday
Revellers wrap their arms around each others’ shoulders as they leave a venue in Sydney’s CBD on Monday afternoon
A man gives his mate a piggy back ride as they leave a venue in The Rocks on Monday
Mr Morrison happily mingled and posed for photos with Darwin locals after the dawn service as he entered the third week of the federal election campaign.
Isolating at his Sydney home with Covid, federal Opposition Leader Mr Albanese delivered his Anzac Day address in a video message.
He said the Australian character was confirmed at Gallipoli and since then Australians had ‘stood steadfast as warriors and as builders and keepers of the peace’.
‘Yet as the war in Ukraine so tragically reminds us, darkness is not vanquished from the world,’ he said.
In Darwin, Prime Minister Scott Morrison mingled with locals after delivering a poignant Anzac Day address
Past and present servicemen were among the large crowds at a dawn service in Currumbin
‘It reminds us freedom cannot be taken for granted. It reminds us that freedom isn’t free.’
Across the Tasman, thousands of Kiwis joined New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for a service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Gallipoli, the site of the Australia’s most disastrous wartime endeavour, has also welcomed back thousands of Australians and Kiwis for the first time since 2019.
In Sydney, thousands braved the rain to fill Martin Place to capacity for the solemn service which marked the 95th anniversary of the first dawn service held there.
50,000 Melburnians braved chilly conditions at the Shrine of Remembrance on Monday
A man pays his respects to servicemen and women at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet attended with two of his seven children and led commemorations by reciting the poem Salute, penned by Sydney Elliott Napier, who served with the First Australian Imperial Force during World War I.
He was joined by state opposition leader Chris Minns and federal Opposition frontbencher Tanya Plibersek.
Major General Matthew Pearse reminded the crowd of a number of significant anniversaries in 2022.
They include the 80th anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin, the Fall of Singapore, the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Kokoda campaign.
2022 also marks 60 years since Australia’s first involvement in the Vietnam War.
An ADF servicewoman pays her respect to fallen servicemen and women at Sydney’s service
In Martin Place, Sydneysiders were reminded of a number of significant anniversaries in 2022
He added it was a day to give thanks for all veterans ‘for their service, their sacrifice and their resilience’.
‘They’re filled with stories of ordinary Australians who pulled together despite adversity to support their mates and put their lives on the line to defend our national interests and secure a brighter future,’ the commander of Forces Command said.
Thousands more gathered at local dawn services across the city, including massive crowds at North Bondi.
Thousands also braved the rain on the Gold Coast as they gathered on the Currumbin foreshore to pay their respects.
There were similar scenes in Melbourne, where 50,000 braved the chilly conditions to pay their respects to the fallen at the Shrine of Remembrance.
It was the biggest crowd there since the centenary of Gallipoli in 2015.
On the Gold Coast, Australians of all ages packed Currumbin’s foreshore to commemorate Anzac Day
There were similar scenes at dawn services across Sydney, including North Bondi (pictured)
The rain didn’t put a dampener on Sydney’s dawn service at a packed Martin Place
RSL Victoria state president Robert Webster expected numbers to be slightly down on pre-pandemic crowds due to the long weekend and school holidays.
‘But one of the messages that we’ve been giving to the broader community is that we’ve got 270-odd sub-branches across the state, most of whom will be running a dawn service or a local march,’ he told AAP.
‘So go local.’
Dr Webster said Covid restrictions in recent years was hard on veterans who see Anzac Day as a time to reflect and catch up with mates.
Governor-General David Hurley delivered an address to the nation from the Australian War Memorial in Canberra following the ANZAC Day march.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of Anzac Day commemorations at the memorial.
Hundreds of young families on the Gold Coast gathered at the Currumbin foreshore to commemorate Anzac Day
For many veterans in attendance, it was the first dawn service they’ve been to since 2019. Pictured are war veterans at the Currumbin dawn service
The eternal flame was lit as Melburnians paid their their respects at the Shrine of Remembrance
NSW has temporarily lifted the ban to allow two-up to be legally played in pubs, clubs, and elsewhere across the entire three-day Anzac Day long weekend.
The one-off aims to give back to veterans who missed out during the Covid-19 pandemic at the biggest Anzac Day commemoration since 2019.
Australian soldiers regularly played the coin toss betting game in trenches and on troopships during World War I, after it was originally played by immigrants and convicts in the 1850s goldfields.
The game involves a designated ‘spinner’ who throws two coins or pennies into the air as players bet on whether the coins will land on heads or tails.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured with locals) commemorated Anzac Day in Darwin on day 15 of the election camapign