Anzac Day: Sydneysiders making the most of the extended commemorations with two-up

Coins have been flying through the air in pubs and clubs across Sydney as punters took advantage of this year’s special two-up rule change.

Come in spinner! The decision to allow NSW punters the chance to play two-up over the whole long weekend has been a welcome one, with Sydneysiders making the most of the extended Anzac Day commemorations.

Two-up, a game popularised by soldiers in World War I, is usually banned in NSW on all days bar Anzac Day. But after events were scaled down last year, and cancelled completely in 2020, this year the beloved gambling game was made legal across NSW pubs and clubs for the entire long weekend.

Hundreds of punters crammed around the stage watching coins being tossed in the air at The Courthouse Hotel in Newtown on Sunday afternoon, making the most of this year’s rule change.

For office manager Rachel Cooper it was a great way to celebrate with friends “after the last couple of years”.

“The sun is out, everyone’s having a good time and the best bit is I won’t have a hangover at work tomorrow,” she said.

Katherine Jones and Rachel Cooper cleaned up playing two-up at Newtown’s Courthouse Hotel. Picture: Richard Dobson

“I think legalising it for the whole weekend was a great idea after all we’ve been through.”

For the 31-year-old who drove up with her friends from the Sutherland Shire to have a punt in Newtown, the best part of the tradition is you can only play once a year.

“We looked around online and saw they were playing two-up here so we came up from Caringbah,” she said.

“I think it’s such a special event because it’s only once a year, it wouldn’t draw the big crowds if we could play it all the time.”

Local Newtown punter Tara Rowley said two-up at the Courthouse Hotel on Anzac Day was a treasured family tradition.

“My parents used to come here for two-up when I was a kid and I remember climbing in the trees behind me with my cousins and family friends,” she said.