Australia Day salute

Australia Day (26 January) is the day to reflect on what it means to be Australian, to celebrate contemporary Australia and to acknowledge our history.

It is commemorated on this day each year with a 21-gun salute fired from the Shrine of Remembrance's Lower Forecourt by the Royal Australian Artillery.

The tradition of the Gun Salute originated in the early 14th Century, firstly, as a ceremonial method of creating noise to honour a guest and, secondly, for the practical purpose of confirming the guns were empty. Salutes were considered a gesture of friendship and trust, and are always fired with an odd number of rounds as this was considered lucky.

Note: The Salute is very loud and it is recommended that visitors who may be startled by loud noises maintain an appropriate distance from the guns.