Shabbat Times in Melbourne

Melbourne’s Jewish community is one of the largest in Australia, and its southern latitude gives Shabbat a distinctive yearly arc. Our free calculator below is preset to Melbourne, so you can check this week’s candle-lighting time, sunset, Havdalah, and Torah portion in seconds. Times follow Australian Eastern Time, with the daylight-saving switch handled automatically.

Candle Lighting in Melbourne

Candle lighting in Melbourne is 18 minutes before astronomical sunset, the standard Diaspora custom. Like Sydney, Melbourne has inverted seasons: sunset is about 8:40 PM in late December and about 5:07 PM in late June. Candle lighting therefore falls near 8:22 PM on the bright midsummer Fridays of December and near 4:49 PM in midwinter.

Victoria observes daylight saving time, moving clocks forward in early October and back in early April. The calculator applies the correct offset automatically for any date you enter.

Havdalah in Melbourne

Havdalah in Melbourne is recited after nightfall, when three medium stars are visible. The default nightfall standard in the calculator is 8.5 degrees, and communities that follow 42, 50, or 72 minutes after sunset can select their custom in the settings.

Shabbat Times for Nearby Communities

Times across greater Melbourne differ by only a few minutes. Nearby options include Geelong and Ballarat. For the other major Australian guide, see Shabbat times in Sydney. You can also check any city worldwide on the main Shabbat candle-lighting times tool.

Planning Around Shabbat in Melbourne

December Fridays in Melbourne are light past 9 PM, with lighting near 8:22 PM, while June Fridays bring candle lighting close to 4:49 PM and a winter chill in the air. Synagogues in Caulfield, St Kilda East, and Elsternwick hold Kabbalat Shabbat services at various times, so confirm with your own congregation. To convert a Hebrew date for a simcha or a yahrzeit, see our Hebrew date converter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is candle lighting in Melbourne this Friday?

Use the calculator on this page for this week’s exact times. In late December, candle lighting in Melbourne is near 8:22 PM, and in late June it is near 4:49 PM.

Is Melbourne on the same clock as Sydney?

Yes. Both cities follow Australian Eastern Time and move to daylight saving on the same dates, so candle-lighting times can be compared directly between the two cities.

How far apart are Sydney and Melbourne Shabbat times?

Melbourne sits a little further south, so its summer days are slightly longer and its winter days slightly shorter. In practice the difference is only a few minutes for candle lighting and Havdalah.