Dawn services, two-up across nation; Anthony Albanese completes Kokoda Track

On ANZAC Day 1927 in the early hours of that morning, five members of the Association of Returned Sailors and Soldiers Clubs were wending their way home. They had just attended the Association’s ANZAC eve annual general meeting and dinner which was held at the Martin Place Blue Tea Rooms (between Castlereagh and Pitt Streets).

On their way, they saw an elderly lady moving to place a sheaf of flowers on the then bare granite plinth of the Cenotaph in Sydney’s Martin Place. When she stumbled and dropped the flowers, they helped her and awkwardly watched her place the flowers; when she began to pray, they silently joined her.

The five recounted their experiences and it brought back memories of other dawns to these old soldiers. The creation of the Cenotaph had heightened consciousness of commemoration and in response to a motion by its honorary secretary, the Association decided to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph on ANZAC Day 1928 at 4.30am, the time the Gallipoli Landing commenced at ANZAC Cove on 25 April 1915.

A small number attended this ceremony, including the five men. The President of the association at that time laid the wreath. The ceremony was most simple but its solemnity, including a period of silence which was the first occasion for it to be used at a ceremony other than Armistice Day, created a deep impression and ensured its continuance. The 1928 ceremony was but an act of commemoration. The first Dawn Service took place on ANZAC Day 1929.

With the completion of the Sydney Cenotaph, attendances at the Service grew rapidly so that by 1931 up to 800 people were present. In 2024, 8380 people attended the Martin Place dawn service.