What’s Open on Christmas, Boxing Day & New Year’s in 2023? All Holiday Trading Hours
Stay organised with our easy-to-follow guide to Christmas 2023’s trading hours and public holidays across every state and territory in Australia.
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Get ready for the festive season by noting down the specific dates and days for Christmas 2023’s trading hours and public holidays in each state:
Victoria:
In Victoria, Christmas Day and Boxing Day are public holidays, but Christmas Day is a restricted trading day.
The Shop Trading Reform Act 1996 (Vic) prohibits most shops from trading on restricted days, with exemptions for chemists, petrol shops, restaurants, cafes, and takeaway outlets.
Additionally, shops with fewer than 20 employees or fewer than 100 employees in the preceding seven days are exempt from these restrictions.
Christmas Day (Monday, December 25): Restricted trading day.
Boxing Day (Tuesday, December 26): Restricted trading day.
New Year’s Day (Monday, January 1, 2024): Public holiday.
New South Wales:
In NSW, both Christmas Day and Boxing Day are restricted trading days. However, a conditional exemption applies to Boxing Day, allowing all shops to trade if employees elect to work.
Small shops (employing four or fewer staff) can open on restricted trading days without requiring an exemption.
Businesses in NSW should check the NSW Fair Trading website for any necessary exemptions and specific criteria for small shop classifications.
Christmas Day (Monday, December 25): Restricted trading day.
Boxing Day (Tuesday, December 26): Restricted trading day (Conditional exemption applies).
New Year’s Day (Monday, January 1, 2024): Public holiday.
Australian Capital Territory:
ACT observes public holidays on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.
Trading hours restrictions are deregulated in the ACT, allowing businesses to choose when to trade during the festive season.
Christmas Day (Monday, December 25): Public holiday.
Boxing Day (Tuesday, December 26): Public holiday.
New Year’s Day (Monday, January 1, 2024): Public holiday.
Queensland:
Queensland experiences public holidays on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. Special trading hour arrangements apply, and exemptions exist for certain shops.
Independent retail shops with unrestricted trading hours may remain open during the Christmas period except on Christmas Day.
Christmas Day (Monday, December 25): Public holiday (Special trading hours apply).
Boxing Day (Tuesday, December 26): Public holiday (Special trading hours apply).
New Year’s Day (Monday, January 1, 2024): Public holiday (Extended trading applies).
Northern Territory:
The NT celebrates public holidays on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. Trading hours are mostly deregulated, but some conditions apply, particularly for stores selling liquor on Christmas Day.
Christmas Day (Monday, December 25): Public holiday.
Boxing Day (Tuesday, December 26): Public holiday.
New Year’s Day (Monday, January 1, 2024): Public holiday.
South Australia:
Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day are public holidays in South Australia. Trading hours are regulated by the Shop Trading Hours Act 1977 and Shop Trading Regulations 2018.
Midnight trading is allowed on specific weekdays, and recent laws allow shopping centres across metropolitan Adelaide to trade on Boxing Day.
Christmas Day (Monday, December 25): Public holiday.
Boxing Day (Tuesday, December 26): Public holiday (Midnight trading applies on Thursdays, December 14 and 21, and Friday, December 22).
New Year’s Day (Monday, January 1, 2024): Public holiday.
Tasmania:
Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day in Tasmania are public holidays. The Shop Trading Hours Act 1984 places trading restrictions on large retailers on Christmas Day.
Christmas Day (Monday, December 25): Public holiday.
Boxing Day (Tuesday, December 26): Public holiday.
New Year’s Day (Monday, January 1, 2024): Public holiday (Trading restrictions apply for large retailers on Christmas Day).
Western Australia:
Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day are public holidays in Western Australia. Trading hours vary based on the type of business, with general retail shops having specific regulations.
Extended trading hours for general retail shops in the Perth metro area have been approved from December 9, 2023, to January 1, 2024.
Christmas Day (Monday, December 25): Public holiday.
Boxing Day (Tuesday, December 26): Public holiday.
New Year’s Day (Monday, January 1, 2024): Public holiday (Extended trading approved for the Perth metro area from December 9, 2023, to January 1, 2024).
What stores are open on Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day?
SUPERMARKETS
Aldi
Christmas Eve (December 24): All stores are open until 8pm.
Christmas Day (December 25): All stores closed.
Boxing Day (December 26): Stores open, with varying hours.
New Year’s Eve (December 31): All stores open with reduced hours.
New Year’s Day (January 1): Stores open with reduced hours; some SA stores closed.
Coles
Christmas Eve (December 24): All stores open.
Christmas Day (December 25): All stores closed.
Boxing Day (December 26): All stores open, with varying hours.
New Year’s Eve (December 31): All stores open with varying hours.
New Year’s Day (January 1): All stores open with varying holiday trading hours.
Woolies
Christmas Eve (December 24): All stores open.
Christmas Day (December 25): All stores closed.
Boxing Day (December 26): All stores open, with varying hours.
New Year’s Eve (December 31): All stores open.
New Year’s Day (January 1): All stores open with varying holiday trading hours.
All independently operated supermarkets can choose to open on Christmas Day for full or part-day trading.
CONVENIENCE STORES/ PETROL STATIONS
Convenience stores like 7-Eleven can open on Christmas Day.
Service stations have unrestricted trading hours and can open on Christmas Day.
SHOPPING
Major stores (Kmart, Big W, Target, Myer, David Jones, Bunnings, and Ikea) close on Christmas Eve and reopen on Boxing Day. Check individual store websites for the most up-to-date trading hours.
LIQUOR STORES
Bottle shops are closed on Christmas Day (with exceptions in selected states) and reopen on Boxing Day.
In New South Wales, some small bars can trade from midday on Christmas Day.
CHEMIST
Some late-night or 24-hour chemists may be open on Christmas Day.
BANKS
Closed on Christmas Day.
Varying hours for different branches and specific banks beyond Christmas Day.
SERVICES
Local waste collection services may be impacted during Christmas and other public holidays, with many services not running on Christmas Day.
Australia Post is generally closed on all public holidays, including Christmas Day. To make up for this, AusPost is conducting deliveries on weekends in the lead-up to Christmas. You can check the list of cut-off dates on their website.
2023 Christmas Trading Hours and Public Holidays FAQs
Q: Can I buy alcohol on Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day?
A: Availability varies; contact your local liquor store for details.
Q: What essential services are open on Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day?
A: Emergency services, medical facilities, and law enforcement remain operational.
Q: Can I still buy petrol on public holidays?
A: Petrol stations may operate, but hours vary; check with your local station.
Q: Do workers earn penalty rates on Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day?
A: Penalty rates may apply; consult your workplace or employment contract for details.
Stay organised with our easy-to-follow guide, ensuring you make the most of the festive season in your state and the best Christmas sales of 2023!
Originally published as What’s Open on Christmas, Boxing Day & New Year’s in 2023? All Holiday Trading Hours
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