The King's Birthday is celebrated on different days in Australia because each state and territory sets its own public holiday dates. Most states observe the King's Birthday on the second Monday in June, following the traditional date set for the monarch's official birthday in the UK, chosen for better weather during celebrations. However, Queensland and Western Australia differ:
- Queensland moved the holiday to the first Monday in October starting in 2016 to spread out public holidays more evenly across the year and to provide a break between other holidays, creating a long weekend later in the year.
- Western Australia observes the holiday on a varying date in either late September or early October, depending on local considerations like school terms and the Perth Royal Show.
Thus, the patchwork of dates reflects state-level decisions to balance holidays rather than following the King's actual birthday (which is November 14) or a uniform national date.
