when did melbourne cup become a public holiday

When did melbourne cup become a public holiday

Public holidays in Australia refer to the holidays recognised in law in Australia. Although they are declared on a state and territory basis, they comprise a mixture of nationally celebrated days and holidays exclusive to the individual jurisdictions.

It's a public holiday observed only in the northern part of Tasmania and it's exactly what it sounds like on the packet — a legally mandated day off to do whatever you like. It's also one of several geographically specific public holidays that have helped Australia live up to its "Land of the Long Weekend" moniker. With Recreation Day and the Melbourne Cup just around the corner, here's a timely look at some of Australia's most curious public holidays. Embracing long weekends — and if need be, creating them out of thin air — is pretty much how the curiously named Recreation Day came to be. Recreation Day is a holiday that arguably epitomises modern-day Australian values better than any other — a day with no cultural or religious significance on which you do whatever you choose. If one particular regional city gets a public holiday, other parts of the state feel aggrieved," explains Richard Eccleston, a political scientist at the University of Tasmania. With that in mind, perhaps the most surprising thing about Recreation Day is the fact it took until for the state to legislate it into being.

When did melbourne cup become a public holiday

At that time provisions existed to allow for the proclamation of special bank holidays under the Bank Holidays Act of that year and for special civil service holidays under the Civil Service Act. On 30 October , the Department prepared the necessary documentation for the birthday of the Prince of Wales 9 November to be declared a special public holiday under the Civil Service Act. But this did not please everyone. The Cup meeting was the last one to be run on a Thursday. In it was moved to the second Tuesday of the month. This meant the Cup was to be run on 9 November, the Prince of Wales birthday. As a result civil service and bank holidays were gazetted. Or was it soliciting a public holiday irrespective of the day? Bagot wrote to the Chief Secretary with the following proposal:. Sir James informed me it was in your hand. Subsequent to this meeting both of the 7th and 9th November were Gazetted as Civil Service and Bank holidays. From then on the precedent appears to have been set and a special public holiday for the Cup was proclaimed annually.

There are two significant national daysAustralia Day 26 January and Anzac Day 25 Aprilwhich are nationwide public holidays. The minister of the state may proclaim and adjustments or additions, such as the date of the Brisbane Ekka Show day holiday.

It is a metre race for three-year-olds and older, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club that forms part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. It is the richest two-mile handicap in the world and one of the richest turf races. The event starts at pm on the first Tuesday of November and is known locally as "the race that stops the nation". The day of the race has been a public holiday for much of Victoria since This reduced the distance by The present record holder is the winner Kingston Rule with a time of

From high-rise offices to dusty Outback mines, Australia grinds to a halt every year on the first Tuesday of November. Melbourne Cup day is a designated public holiday in Victoria, but even elsewhere in the nation, workers will down tools come race time at 3pm. The two-mile thoroughbred race is Australia's equivalent of Britain's Grand National or America's Kentucky Derby, capturing the world's attention for the three-and-a-half minute spectacle. Known as "the race that stops the nation", the Melbourne Cup began more than years ago amid gold rush-era Australia. Just 4, people packed Flemington Racecourse for the first race in , with inaugural winner Archer rumoured to have claimed a gold watch rather than the iconic Cup of today. The event grew quickly, however, taking on a carnival-like atmosphere as it attracted the rich and famous - not to mention the latest trends in fashion. By , when Melbourne had a population of just , people, the Cup itself drew , people from around Australia, according to the Victoria Racing Club.

When did melbourne cup become a public holiday

At that time provisions existed to allow for the proclamation of special bank holidays under the Bank Holidays Act of that year and for special civil service holidays under the Civil Service Act. On 30 October , the Department prepared the necessary documentation for the birthday of the Prince of Wales 9 November to be declared a special public holiday under the Civil Service Act. But this did not please everyone. The Cup meeting was the last one to be run on a Thursday. In it was moved to the second Tuesday of the month. This meant the Cup was to be run on 9 November, the Prince of Wales birthday. As a result civil service and bank holidays were gazetted.

Enchanted sword terraria

To the dismay and anger of the public, bookmakers, showing no feeling, presented a purse loaded with coins to the captain as token of their appreciation for his part in saving them many thousands of pounds in bets already laid on the favourites who had perished. This meant the Cup was to be run on 9 November, the Prince of Wales birthday. Archived from the original on 29 January Despite his weight of 11 stone 4 pounds, Archer would have contested the third cup in , but due to a Victorian public holiday trainer Etienne de Mestre's telegraphed acceptance form arrived late, and Archer was scratched on a technicality. Share Facebook X formerly Twitter. In many ways, it's difficult to prosecute the argument that the Melbourne Cup is still the Race That Stops the Nation , with concerns about problem gambling and animal welfare threatening to overshadow the race itself in recent years. Article Talk. Horsemen of the First Frontier — and the Serpent's Legacy. Archived from the original on 8 September Retrieved 5 March Archived from the original on 24 May Archived from the original on 8 November Retrieved 27 August Footer ABC Everyday. Retrieved 7 January

It is an annual public holiday in the state of Victoria.

Retrieved 18 April Brisbane: Boolarong Press. Main article: Overtime. SafeWork SA. The extent of coverage of the act was adjusted via these annual proclamations over time and legislation specifically providing for a public holiday on the first Tuesday of November was not enacted until the Public Holidays Act of Premises must meet the Australian Government Standards. Archived from the original on 8 August Retrieved 15 September Outline Index Bibliography Category Portal. Archived from the original on 8 December Holidays in Australia. The story of the Melbourne Cup, Australia's greatest race.

2 thoughts on “When did melbourne cup become a public holiday

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *