DAYLIGHT saving will officially end at 3am tomorrow, marking the close of a practice that has long divided opinion.

Daylight saving in New South Wales has a surprisingly complex history.

First introduced during the First World War as a wartime measure to conserve fuel, it was briefly adopted and then abandoned, only to reappear during the Second World War for similar reasons. The modern system, however, dates back to the 1970s, when energy conservation and lifestyle considerations prompted a more permanent reintroduction.

The practice has since become a seasonal fixture, typically beginning in October and ending in early April.

NSW Nationals’ Member for Tweed Geoff Provest last month tabled a Bill to shorten daylight saving to four months – from the end of October to the end of February.

The Bill, supported by Member for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan and Member for Clarence Richie Williamson, will be considered by Parliament in the first half of this year.

Daylight saving has never been without controversy.

Supporters argue that extended evening daylight encourages outdoor activity, boosts retail and hospitality sectors, and aligns Australia more closely with international business hours.

Critics, particularly in regional and agricultural communities, have long argued daylight saving offers little tangible benefit outside urban centres.

Referendums and political debates over the decades have reflected this divide.

On May 1, 1976 a Daylight Saving Time referendum was passed with a huge majority – 1.8 million ‘yes’ votes to 868 ‘no’ votes.

Since then, calls to abolish or modify the system surface periodically, though none have gained enough traction to bring about change.

Whether you love it or hate it, don’t forget to wind back the clocks tonight.

Most electronic devices automatically update to daylight saving time, but anyone with a manual clock or watch should wind it back one hour before going to bed.