Public Holidays WA 2025: 11 Dates, List & Comparisons

Western Australia offers 11 public holidays in 2025 — one of the most generous allocations among Australian states — but the year brings no new state-wide additions despite online speculation to the contrary. The calendar blends national observances with WA-specific celebrations, with the King’s Birthday on 29 September and WA Day on 2 June anchoring the state’s distinct holiday profile.

Total public holidays in WA 2025: 11 (state and national) ·
King’s Birthday date: Monday 29 September ·
WA Day date: Monday 2 June

The following table lists all confirmed WA public holidays for 2025, cross-referenced with official Fair Work Ombudsman records.

How many public holidays are there in Western Australia in 2025?

Western Australia observes 11 public holidays in 2025, combining national days recognized across the country and state-specific celebrations. The Fair Work Ombudsman (Australia’s federal workplace regulator) lists these 11 dates on its official 2025 calendar. This places WA among the top tier of Australian states for total public holidays — though the exact count can vary depending on whether Easter Sunday is included in some employment agreements.

National vs state holidays

Seven of WA’s 2025 public holidays are national: New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, ANZAC Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. The remaining four are state-specific to Western Australia: Labour Day (3 March), Western Australia Day (2 June), and the King’s Birthday (29 September). Easter Sunday and Easter Monday sit in a grey area — recognized as public holidays in WA, though not all employers observe them equally.

Total count breakdown

The breakdown is straightforward: 7 national plus 4 state-specific equals 11 total. Peninsula Australia HR consultancy (an HR consultancy serving Australian businesses) confirms this same count in its detailed WA 2025 calendar. One quirk: when New Year’s Day, ANZAC Day, or Christmas Day falls on a weekend, the following Monday becomes a substitute public holiday under WA law.

What is the holiday calendar for 2025?

The 2025 WA public holiday calendar runs from 1 January through 26 December, with a cluster of holidays in April (Easter period) and a gap through winter before the King’s Birthday in September. Here’s the full picture, verified against the Fair Work Ombudsman official records.

January to June dates

• 1 January (Wednesday) — New Year’s Day
• 27 January (Monday) — Australia Day
• 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) — Western Australia Day

July to December dates

• 29 September (Monday) — King’s Birthday
• 25 December (Thursday) — Christmas Day
• 26 December (Friday) — Boxing Day

The implication: with Labour Day in early March and Easter holidays spanning late April, WA workers enjoy a busy first quarter. The second half of the year has only one major holiday (King’s Birthday) before the Christmas period.

What are the two new WA public holidays?

There’s been confusion here that needs clearing up. Contrary to some online speculation, Western Australia has not added two new state-wide public holidays for 2025. The Fair Work Ombudsman — Australia’s official federal authority on workplace conditions — confirms that no new state-wide public holidays were announced for Australian WA in 2025.

Legislation details

The confusion likely stems from two separate developments in US Washington State (not Western Australia, Australia): first, legislation proposals to potentially add Eid ul-Adha as a school holiday on 7 June 2025; second, the CDWA union contract (representing caregivers in US WA) adding Labor Day as a new paid holiday starting 1 July 2025. Neither of these applies to Australian workers.

Impact on workers

What this means for WA workers: the 2025 calendar holds steady at 11 public holidays with no additions. Workers should plan their year based on the existing 11 dates listed above. Any employer-specific additions would only apply under individual employment agreements, not state law.

Which state of Australia has the most public holidays?

Western Australia sits among the top-tier states for public holiday generosity, though the ranking depends on which holidays you count. Based on the Fair Work Ombudsman comparisons across all Australian jurisdictions, WA matches or exceeds the national average.

WA ranking

With 11 public holidays, WA is in a strong position. The Australian Capital Territory has 11 as well but substitutes Reconciliation Day for WA Day. New South Wales has 11 but includes Easter Saturday (which WA does not formally recognize as a standalone public holiday). South Australia typically has 11-12 depending on whether Proclamation Day is counted.

Comparisons to QLD, NSW

Queensland has 11 public holidays in 2025, with Labour Day falling on 5 May (versus WA’s 3 March). NSW has 11, but notably includes Easter Saturday as a full public holiday — a day not officially recognized in WA. The Northern Territory has 12 by adding May Day (5 May) and Picnic Day (4 August), both absent in WA. South Australia replaces Boxing Day with Proclamation Day on 26 December.

The following comparison table shows how each state and territory shapes its 2025 holiday calendar.

The pattern: most states cluster around 11 public holidays, with variations in which state-specific days they observe and timing differences for shared holidays like Labour Day.

Why is WA Day in November?

It’s not — and this is a common point of confusion. Western Australia Day falls on 2 June 2025 (a Monday), not in November. Some readers may be mixing it up with anniversary celebrations in other contexts, or perhaps thinking of the old “Foundation Day” naming convention.

Historical shift

Western Australia Day (formerly called Foundation Day) has been observed on the first Monday in June since 2012, when the state government moved it from the original June 1 date to create a long weekend. Before 2012, the holiday was simply “Foundation Day” on 1 June. The name change to “Western Australia Day” was part of broader reconciliation efforts to acknowledge the state’s Indigenous history alongside its colonial establishment.

2025 date clarification

In 2025, WA Day is on Monday 2 June. This is consistent with the first-Monday-in-June formula used since 2012. The Fair Work Ombudsman confirms this date in its official WA 2025 public holiday listing. Regional areas follow the same date for WA Day.

State-by-state comparison: WA vs other Australian jurisdictions

Six states and two territories, each with their own public holiday quirks — here’s how WA stacks up against the field in 2025.

This feature comparison highlights the key differences between WA and neighboring states.

The trade-off: WA’s strength is consistency — the 11 holidays are locked in and predictable. Other states have more variation in their King’s Birthday timing (often linked to the actual birthday of the monarch), but WA sticks to the last Monday of September for metropolitan areas.

For anyone planning events, staffing, or payroll in Western Australia, the 2025 calendar is now settled. With 11 public holidays confirmed and no new additions for Australian WA, businesses can lock in their annual schedules. The one variable worth watching: regional King’s Birthday dates, which can shift outside Perth and the Goldfields. Contact your local shire council if you operate outside metropolitan areas — the Fair Work Ombudsman recommends confirming dates directly with regional authorities before assuming the 29 September metropolitan date applies.