A gate latch is adapted to be installed on a gate post and a complementary striker arm is secured typically to a gate so that, upon closure of the gate, the striker arm engages a displacable latching element mounted in a housing of the latch to displace the latching element. The latching element is biased towards its open position but when the striker arm engages with the latching element it is displaced, thereby releasing an interference portion of a biased locking element, whereby the locking element is released to move under its biasing into a locking position so that self-locking is provided for the latch. A rotary release mechanism may be actuated to return the locking element so that the latching element can be released to release the striker bar and the gate may be opened.