Australia Day on January 26 this year falls on a Monday, meaning Australians can embrace a long weekend in the next few days.
Unlike New Year’s Eve or Anzac Day, most shops are open on Australia Day as it’s considered a normal trading holiday.
However, some states may restrict trading hours on public holidays.
Here's what’s open on Australia Day across the country.
NSW, Victoria, Northern Territory, ACT and Tasmania
Shops are open as usual on Australia Day in these states and territories, although some — such as Coles and Woolworths — may apply public holiday hours.
South Australia
Under the state’s Shop Trading Hours Act, shops are subjected to restricted trading hours on Australia Day, depending on whether it’s an exempt or non-exempt shop.
If it’s an exempt shop, it can trade on any day of the year during hours that suit the business and its customers.
If it’s a non-exempt shop, it will have restricted hours or be closed on Australia Day, depending on its location.
For non-exempt shops in the CBD Tourist Precinct, shops are open from 11am to 5pm.
For those in the Metropolitan Shopping District, Binnum, Grace and Millicent, shops have to be closed.
For businesses that run hardware, furniture, floor coverings, motor vehicle parts and accessories, shops may open from 9am to 5pm.
Car and boat dealerships will be closed on Australia Day.
Queensland
On Australia Day, shops that belong to exempt shops — except for independent retailers — have unrestricted trading hours.
For the rest, it depends on whether it belongs to Type 1 trading areas, which include most CBDs and tourism precincts.
For supermarkets and department stores, those in Type 1 trading areas can be open from 7am to 9pm, while the rest can be open from 9am to 6pm.
For Hardware shops in Type 1 trading areas, those in Type 1 trading areas can be open from 6am to 9pm, and those outside the areas can be open from 6am to 6pm.
For car yards located in the cities, it can be open from 8am to 6pm, while those outside the area remain closed.
Western Australia
On Australia Day, shops in the Perth metropolitan area can open from 8am to 6pm, while those outside the metropolitan area remain closed.
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