Australia Post tipped to have its busiest-ever day on Monday, December 17

Shoppers are sending and receiving more Christmas parcels than ever before as Australia Post prepares for the biggest day in its 209-year history. And you’ll never guess how many gifts they’re delivering.

NEARLY three million Christmas parcels will be delivered to homes and businesses tomorrow in the busiest-ever day in Australia Post’s 209-year history.

Posties, drivers and parcel sorters are working in overdrive to ensure shoppers and gift givers have their goods delivered in time for Christmas at up to 11.5 million locations.

And this weekend will be manic for posties who are expected to deliver more than 650,000 parcels — the busiest weekend ever.

Weekend deliveries have been introduced in the run up to Christmas across the entire country including in metropolitan and regional cities.

Australia Post’s chief operating officer Bob Black said some drivers had delivered more than 400 parcels a day each to cope with the mass influx in the finals weeks before Christmas.

“Monday will be the busiest day, this is up from 2.7 million on one day in December last year,” he said.

“People are more familiar with how to order online, merchants are giving more variety, choice and flexibility, you can go online and get virtually anything.

“Fashion, homewares, toys and games contribute to about 60 per cent of online orders.”

Australia Post employees are working hard to ensure all Christmas letters and parcels are delivered in the coming days.

He said the convenience of online shopping had helped result in its huge growth.

Australia Post expects to deliver more than 40 million parcels this month — up from 37 million parcels delivered in December last year.

They have also hired an additional 3000 staff during the Christmas period.

Fuelling the spike in delivery numbers including the recent shopping days — Black Friday and Cyber Monday — which attracted huge attention from shoppers all vying to snap up bargains.

And delivery of letters and Christmas cards is far from dead — Australia Post still delivers 70 million letters every week, which climbs by 15 per cent at this time of year.

Mr Black said domestic parcel numbers had climbed due to a falling Australian dollar and the government introducing GST on imported goods.

The Australian Retailers Association’s executive director, Russell Zimmerman, encouraged shoppers to get organised as time is running out.

“If you haven’t started Christmas shopping now online you need to get into it today so the retailers can get it out to you by close of business on Christmas Eve,” he said.

“Most people will recognise this is one of the busiest weekends for people shopping for Christmas and so you need to get out and get it.

“The closer you leave it to Christmas the less selection you will get.”

For those who do leave it to the last minute Australia Post is offering express services up until Friday, December 21 to ensure delivery on December 24.

@sophieelsworth