Australia Post experiences biggest weekend in history thanks to Black Friday, Cyber Monday sales

Mammoth spending by Victorians during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales has created the largest parcel boom in Australia Post’s history.

Mail officer Helen Gandolfo sorts packages in the biggest parcel delivery week in Australia Post’s 211-year history. Picture: Mark Stewart

Australia Post has seen its biggest parcel delivery week in history thanks to generous spending in the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

Two million parcels have been delivered daily by the national postal service this week, fuelling the company’s biggest parcel boom.

More than 630 tonnes of airfreight was flown across the country between Black Friday and Tuesday — up more than 200 tonnes on last year.

Australia Post Melbourne Parcel Facility in full swing during what is the biggest parcel delivery week in the organisations 211-year history. Picture: Mark Stewart

Australia Post executive Gary Starr said the Black Friday sale splurge was a culmination of what has been already busy year for them during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“From Monday, we’ll deliver more than 13 million parcels in total — almost three million more than the same week last year,” he said.

More than 2.2 million Australian households bagged a bargain in the four days till Cyber Monday.

Online shopping was up more than 42 per ent over the weekend, beating last year’s record.

The biggest spending was seen in major discount stores and on pet products — with sales up 80 per cent since 2019.

People also spent big in variety stores (up 20 per cent), fashion and apparel (up 41 per cent) and home and garden (up 50 per cent).

“No-one could have predicted in March the seismic shift the COVID-19 pandemic would create; it’s exceeded every expectation, and we’re looking forward to seeing how this continues this month,” Mr Starr said.