Only a few hours after Sydney stood still at dawn to remember fallen diggers, sombre crowds turned into rowdy ones as beers flowed and two-up coins were tossed.
Pubs across the city were bursting at the seams before midday on Wednesday as people of all ages rubbed shoulders in the two-up circle.
In Sydney’s Rocks precinct, streets were blocked off – cars replaced by bands playing Australian classics and barbecues cooking big breakfasts.
Only a few hours after Sydney stood still at dawn to remember fallen diggers, sombre crowds turned into rowdy ones as beers flowed and two-up coins were tossed
Pubs across the city were bursting at the seams before midday on Wednesday as people of all ages rubbed shoulders in the two-up circle
In Sydney’s Rocks precinct, streets were blocked off – cars replaced by bands playing Australian classics and barbecues cooking big breakfasts
Among the throng was Swedish tourist Eleonora Strandh, among the first to take the spinner’s wooden bat and toss the coins.
‘That was an amazing experience, there were a lot of emotions,’ Ms Strandh told AAP after stepping out of the circle with a fistful of small notes.
‘It’s a bit different I guess,’ she said of the heaving crowd and party atmosphere on a national day commemorating those lost to war.
‘But it feels like it’s very typically Australian, to have a beer with everything else.’
In another crowd a woman appeared ecstatic as she waved a $20 note in the air – her winnings in that round of two-up
A man in a bright blue hoodie appeared focused as he flipped his coin high in the air – his companions held their breath as they waited for it to land
A man in a flannelette shirt appeared to collecting his winnings as a man in a business suit smiled while giving away a handful of $50 notes
A man in a flannelette shirt appeared to collecting his winnings as a man in a business suit smiled while giving away a handful of $50 notes.
It was not just fun for the two involved as others, including a sailor, laughed and watched on.
In another crowd a woman appeared ecstatic as she waved a $20 note in the air – her winnings in that round of two-up.
A woman flipped a coin to a supportive crowd of sailors. She kept her eye on the coin as it soared towards the ceiling
This woman chose heads and was willing to bet $10 on it as she watched the game from behind the official
These men appeared to be celebrating in style, one was dressed in a flannelette shirt while his friend opted for a suit
Others were impatient to get to the middle of the circle and close to the coin toss action, squeezing through crowds and waving fist-fulls of cash in front of them
One group stared in anticipation as they awaited the result of the coin toss, as others watched on with drinks in their hand
A woman smiled and threw her arm up at the excitement, as a man wearing a high-vis vest announced the winners with his microphone
One group stared in anticipation as they awaited the result of the coin toss, as others watched on with drinks in their hand.
A woman smiled and threw her arm up at the excitement, as a man wearing a high-vis vest announced the winners with his microphone.
One man seemed eagerly awaited the coin toss with a five dollar note wedged firmly in his mouth.
Others were impatient to get to the middle of the circle and close to the coin toss action, squeezing through crowds and waving fist-fulls of cash in front of them.
Keen sailors held their money in the air as the coin was tossed, as others gazed around the room waiting for a game to take their fancy
A great deal of concentration was on the face of a keen coin tosser, as one of his mates made it clear he was going for heads
Sailors continued enjoying their day on land as the Anzac Day celebrations moved on well into the afternoon