That blessed time of year is almost upon us: daylight saving time is almost here for 2024!!! This means you’re going to lose an hour of sleep, but you can kiss your seasonal depression goodbye.
Australians in most states are going to turn their clocks forward an hour for the beginning of daylight saving in October. If that eternally confuses you because your smartphone updates automatically, it means we technically lose an hour but have extended sunlight hours in the evening. That means more outdoor bevvies in the sun — which sounds pretty good to me!
Still lost? don’t worry, we’ve got ya. You can read more about daylight saving below.
When does daylight saving time start for 2024?
Daylight saving came to an end in April 2024, when we turned our clocks back one hour at 2am. This meant we gained an hour of sleep, but we lost our sunny evenings.
However, daylight saving for 2024 is about to start again! On Sunday 6 October, 2024 at 2am, we will be setting our clocks forward one hour. This means we will lose an hour of sleep. It’ll be worth it for those summer nights though!
We’ll then be blessed with all the sunshine we could want until April 6, 2025, which is when daylight saving comes to an end. Hello darkness my old friend, etc.
Which states and territories have daylight saving?
Victoria, NSW, ACT, Tasmania and South Australia all follow daylight saving time, and so residents of these states will need to adjust their analogue clocks. Or just bask in the golden light shining down on ’em.
Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia do not follow daylight saving. Sunshine is banned here!!!
Because not all states have daylight saving, Australia has three time zones during the cooler months (so, from April to October) and five during the warmer months (from October to March). Which is obviously a LOT.
Currently, Queensland and NSW share a timezone. However, when daylight saving hits, Sydney will be an hour ahead. South Australians will go from being 30 minutes behind Queensland to 30 minutes ahead. It’s a bit of a mind-fuck, especially for those living on the border of Queensland and NSW, TBH.
WA will change from being two hours behind NSW and Victoria to being three hours behind. Yes, my head is spinning too.
Why do we have daylight saving?
Daylight saving was initially introduced in Australia during World War I to conserve power, and was reintroduced during WWII for the same reason.
However, its relevance today is the subject of a lot of debate, especially in Queensland which has flip-flopped with having it for some years now. Former Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen previously claimed that daylight saving confused milking cows, but experts have since clapped back.
Managing director of Pets Australia, Dr Joanne Sillince, told The Guardian that our furry friends rely on sunrise and sunset for their body clocks. “They are sensitive to the change in behaviour of their human companion. If you’re a dog or cat you’re about to get fed an hour earlier. My home-based animals love daylight saving.” Do it for the dogs, people!
Some experts say daylight saving is good because we get an extra hour of daylight, which is better for our mental health. Others say the change in circadian rhythm is catastrophic and actually results in more dangerous accidents.
All I have to say is that I much prefer it when I clock off work at 5.30pm and it doesn’t look like it’s the middle of the night, thanks.
Lead image: E!
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