Where To Play Two-Up Around Australia This ANZAC Day
ANZAC Day is a day of remembrance and commemoration of servicemen and servicewomen who defended their country in all wars. But, above all, it’s a day to honour Aussie mateship.
And what better way to honour tradition than with a good ol’ fashioned game of two-up?
For most parts of the country, it’s legal for just one day out of the year. So, if you’re sure where to play in your city, we’ve got you covered.
Sydney: The Australian Heritage Hotel
Sydney’s largest and most exciting outdoor two-up setup is happening at The Australian Heritage Hotel in The Rocks.
It all kicks off at 8am, so bring your crew down to The Australian after the dawn service for food stalls, an all-day BBQ, and more Aussie brews than you can poke a stick at (130, to be exact).
You can even try the pub’s Coat of Arms pizza, which is topped with emu and kangaroo meat.
Where: The Australian Heritage Hotel, 100 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, Sydney
Melbourne: Prahran RSL
Melbourne’s Prahran RSL Club is one of the country’s oldest. And while it may not be the busiest bar in Victoria, you better believe becomes one on ANZAC Day.
The main bar opens at 10am, so settle in for a cheap-but-tasty counter meal, a few schooeys (or pots, as they’re known by Victorian folk), and a game of two-up from 3pm.
Where: Prahran RSL, 301 High Street, Prahran
Brisbane: The Shafston Hotel
The Shafston Hotel is back again with its annual Tinnes and 2-Up event, which features food trucks, three outdoor bars with cocktails, tinnes, a line-up of local Brissie bands and a bunch of ANZAC Day specials.
Best of all, the event supports Mates4Mates, a charity supporting wounded, injured and ill servicemen and women of the Australian Defence Force.
Where: The Shafton Hotel, 3 Lytton Road, East Brisbane
Perth: Crown Casino
Perth has some complicated rules around two-up, so the best place to play this ANZAC Day is the Crown Casino.
Unlike other parts of Australia, the casino actually hosts two-up games all year round, but ANZAC Day’s proceeds are given to the RSL WA.
Where: Crown Perth, Great Eastern Highway, Burswood
Canberra: The Old Canberra Inn
In the country’s capital this ANZAC Day? Head to The Old Canberra Inn. The pub will have two-up in the beer garden from midday until 8pm, with live music kicking off from 3pm and rocking out until close.
There’s also a classic pub-feed menu with $15 weekday lunch specials.
Where: The Old Canberra Inn, 195 Mouat Street, Lyneham
Adelaide: Semaphore Port Adelaide RSL
It’s not permitted to play two-up anywhere other than the RSL in Adelaide, so Semaphore Port Adelaide RSL is the place to be.
After the dawn service at 5:50am, there will be a “gunfire breakfast” (a typical solider’s breakfast), a sausage sizzle, live music, drinks and two-up all day long.
Where: Semaphore Port Adelaide RSL, 10 Semaphore Road, Semaphore
(Lead image: The Shafston Hotel / Facebook)
