When is Mother's Day in Australia?
This year, Mother's Day in Australia falls on
Sunday, 11 May 2025
In Australia, Mother’s Day arose out of the efforts of a generous Australian lady who lived near Sydney, Janet Hayden. She took a great interest in the needs of the mothers in difficult financial circumstances who lived in her neighbourhood, and in 1924, she started to offer them small gifts. Over time, the idea came to her that she could extend this generosity to mothers all over the country. The national press picked up on this idea and it became a reality with the creation of a nation-wide Mother’s Day, which is now celebrated on the second Sunday in May.
This special day – as is the case elsewhere in the world - offers the chance to give presents and dedicate poems and songs to the lucky mums at the centre of all this attention. It’s also the perfect excuse to have a family barbecue, a much-loved custom in Australia, and to savour Pavlova, a meringue-based dessert covered in whipped cream and fresh fruit, or the legendary Lamingtons, squares of sponge cake coated in chocolate sauce and desiccated coconut.
Dates of Mother's Day in Australia
- Sunday, 14 May 2017
- Sunday, 13 May 2018
- Sunday, 12 May 2019
- Sunday, 10 May 2020
- Sunday, 09 May 2021
- Sunday, 08 May 2022
- Sunday, 14 May 2023
- Sunday, 12 May 2024
- Sunday, 11 May 2025