Australians have been given a one-off public holiday on Thursday as a national day of mourning to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Officially called the National Day of Mourning for Australia, the public holiday comes at a busy time of the year and there are some questions that remain about what will stay open and what won’t be available.
What will be open?
Across most of the country, the day will be treated similarly to Australia Day and New Year’s Day.
So that means most shops, museums and retailers will remain open, although in South Australia, retailers will only be allowed to trade between midday and 9pm.
Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, IGA, Bunnings, Kmart and Big W shops will be open across the country, with minor changes to their trading hours.
Fast food should also be available, with Hungry Jack’s, McDonald’s, KFC, Red Rooster and Domino’s all advertising normal hours on Thursday.
What will be closed?
Schools, libraries and banks will be closed on Thursday, and in some instance, elective surgeries will be cancelled.
Students will miss out in Victoria and Queensland though, where schools are already on holiday.
Can I buy alcohol?
Yes, bottle shops should remain open across the country, but with some trading hour restrictions. It would be best to check your local bottle shop’s closing time before heading out.
Can I get a coffee?
Yes, cafes and restaurants will be open, with opening hours also unrestricted.
But as with the bottle shops, it would be wise to check each venue’s opening times as some spots may have limited trading hours.
Can I go to the pub?
Yes, pubs will be open just like cafes and restaurants, especially important in Victoria for the below reason.
Is Friday also a public holiday?
Only for those lucky enough to live in Victoria.
As it is the Friday before the AFL grand final, Victorians will be getting a four-day weekend.
What will the weather be like?
Rain is expected in Sydney, with a high of 20c, while Melbourne will be happy to hear it will be mostly sunny, also with a high of 20c.
Brisbane is also looking at showers on Thursday, with a high of 24C expected. Perth is forecast to see a partly cloudy day, with a top of 19C. It will also be partly cloudy in Adelaide, with a high of 19C, while it is set to reach 21C in Hobart.
Canberra is set to face a high chance of showers, topping at 17C, while it will be sunny in Darwin with a top of 35C.
Will double demerits be in force?
Yes, but only in NSW.
Transport for NSW announced it would be implementing an extended double demerits period due to the public holiday coming before school holidays on Saturday.
They will apply from 12am on Wednesday 21 September until 11.59pm on Sunday 25 September.
Will there be a national memorial?
A national memorial service will be held at 11am in the Great Hall of Australian Parliament House in Canberra.
