Whether it’s a thank you wave to another driver or knowing your place in the queue at the pub, there are a myriad of ‘unwritten’ laws that operate in Australian society.
And now, some of the finer points have been crystalised in a must-read list for tourists visiting Australia.
AReddit thread about ‘Unwritten Aussie Laws’ has received over 700 replies after urging localsto contribute to a list of known but unwritten behaviour and etiquette rules.
The ‘rules’ span across a myriad of situations, including driving, shopping, attending a party and even backyard cricket.
The original poster kicked off the discussion with a common driving etiquette rule.
‘If you are at the front of the queue at a busy set of traffic lights, you have a responsibility to those behind to get around the corner as quickly/safely as possible to maximise the number of cars that can get through the green light,’ they wrote.
Many agreed that being quick off the mark at the lights was considerate behaviour – and that not doing so would deservedly result in honking.
The other major ‘unwritten’ rule Aussie drivers felt passionately about was a wave of acknowledgement.
A ‘thank you’ acknowledgement wave to another driver was one of a number of unspoken Aussie etiquette rules listed
‘ALWAYS wave if someone lets you in to your lane/gives way to you,’ read one reply.
On country roads, some commenters explained this rule extended further as a friendly gesture towards any passing driver.
‘Fingers up when you see another car on the country road,’ one explained.
‘You have to acknowledge [the other driver]. There are even some little signs at stops that mention this,’ added another country motorist.
Motorbike riders added that this rule applied to them even more broadly.
‘I was very much chastised when I first started riding for not returning a head nod from another rider. I didn’t know. I’ve not missed a head nod since,’ said one motorbike rider.
Situations that involved queuing and patiently waiting your turn were another thing that Aussies were passionate about, with many commenters noting it wasn’t necessarily the norm in other countries.
One person wrote: ‘Travelling overseas made me realise how deeply ingrained queuing is for Australians and how annoyed we get when people jump the line.
Respecting a queue and knowing your place in the line is also a ‘must’
‘[I]n many other places it’s a free for all and people get genuinely shocked if you call them out for pushing in front of you.’
‘Wait your turn. Australians respect queuing in lines,’ added another.
This ‘rule’ similarly applied in pubs and bars – even when a clear line wasn’t formed.
One commenter explained: ‘When at a pub keep a keen eye on who has been waiting longest and tell them ‘you’re next mate’ when the bartender asks.’
This ‘waiting your turn’ philosophy also extended to public transport, with many insisting that the Aussie-way was to allow people to alight from buses, trains or even lifts ‘before you try to get on’.
Speaking of bars, there were a number of unwritten Aussie rules around situations involving alcohol.
At the pub, many were adamant that if someone shouts you a drink or a round, you are obliged to return the favour.
At the pub, many were adamant that if someone shouts you a drink or a round, you are obliged to return the favour
Meanwhile, when attending a party, it’s common courtesy to ‘bring drinks and leave the ones you don’t finish’.
‘Any food or beverage brought to someone’s house stays there, unless the host insists you take it back,’ another agreed.
This also applied in instances when you’ve brought a bottle of wine, even if it hasn’t been opened by the host.
However, some noted that there was a minor exception – being that it was fine to leave a party and take one of your beers with you ‘as a traveller’.
‘I reckon a roadie is acceptable and leave the rest,’ confirmed another response.
Supermarkets were another public place where Aussies had strongly held unspoken etiquette rules.
The original poster surmised two major ones.
‘Let people with a couple of items go in front of you at the checkout if you have heaps of stuff.’
Supermarkets were another public place where Aussies had strongly held unspoken etiquette rules, including ensuring to always return your trolley to a designated spot once you’re finished with it
The second polite behaviour was to always ‘take your trolley back’ to a designated bay.
Maintaining the natural environment also surprisingly featured among the comments, with many Aussies noting that littering was unacceptable in any public area like parks, bushland and beaches.
‘You don’t throw rubbish out the car window,’ added another.
Many commenters noted that this was highly unlike many other overseas countries where citizens regularly dump rubbish.
‘Don’t litter. It gets into waterways and harms wildlife, as well as making the environment disgusting,’ one reply explained.
Many also noted that even the beloved Aussie pastime of backyard cricket was subject to ‘unwritten rules’ that players are expected to abide by.
‘Over the backyard fence is six and out,’ read one reply.
‘One hand, one bounce is out,’ added another.
‘If you know you’re out, walk,’ chimed in a third.
All throughout the replies, there was also one colourful refrain that was repeated ad nauseum as the essential unwritten rule of being in Australia.
Simply: ‘Don’t be a d***head’.
