Did you know the first public holiday recorded in South Australia was on Christmas Day in 1827 and was celebrated by Captain Gould of the Dryad and his crew at Boston Bay in Port Lincoln?

Since then, several other public holidays have been added to the calendar including Anzac Day, King's Birthday and Good Friday.

South Australia's public and bank holidays are prescribed by the Public Holidays Act 2023. This Act commenced on 1 January 2024 and replaces the Holidays Act 1910.

One notable change made to the legislation and finalised in Parliament on 30 November 2023 was to ensure that Christmas Day is treated as a public holiday every year, regardless of whether it falls on a Saturday or Sunday.

This brings South Australia in line with every other Australian State and Territory.

Previously if Christmas Day fell on a Saturday or Sunday, the public holiday moved to the following Monday, meaning workers did not receive public holiday rates when rostered to work on Christmas Day.

The 2025 South Australian public and school holiday dates are:

School holiday dates

If you're thinking about getting away soon, then why not head to one of South Australia's picturesque regional areas. Check out the South Australian Tourism Commission website for inspiration.

For more information about South Australia's public holidays, shop trading hours and industrial relations, visit SafeWork SA.