On ANZAC Day 1927, five members of the Association of Returned Sailors and Soldiers Clubs in Sydney were making their way home after attending the Association’s ANZAC eve annual general meeting and dinner. As they walked through Martin Place, they witnessed an elderly lady attempting to place flowers on the bare granite plinth of the Cenotaph. When she stumbled and dropped the flowers, the men helped her and silently joined her as she prayed. This encounter stirred memories of their own wartime experiences and inspired them to propose laying a wreath at the Cenotaph on ANZAC Day 1928 at 4.30am, the time the Gallipoli Landing commenced in 1915.
The following year, in 1928, a small number of people, including the five men, gathered at the Cenotaph for the ceremony. The President of the association laid the wreath, and the simplicity and solemnity of the event, including a moment of silence, made a deep impression. This marked the first time that a moment of silence was used at a ceremony other than Armistice Day, and it ensured the continuation of the annual event. The first official Dawn Service took place on ANZAC Day 1929, and with the completion of the Sydney Cenotaph, attendance grew rapidly.
By 1931, up to 800 people were present at the Dawn Service in Martin Place, and the tradition continued to gain popularity over the years. In 2024, the service attracted a record attendance of 8380 people, highlighting the continued importance and significance of ANZAC Day in Australian history and culture. The tradition of honoring and remembering the sacrifices of those who served in the armed forces, particularly during World War I, has become a deeply ingrained part of Australian national identity. The annual Dawn Service at the Cenotaph in Sydney’s Martin Place serves as a poignant reminder of the courage and sacrifice of the ANZACs.
