Opening hours of Sydney shopping centres over Christmas week

Major shopping hotspots are getting ready to launch into extended trading hours in the days before Christmas - see where here.

Retailers will be hoping for a last-minute pre-Christmas bounce, with major chains and supermarkets set to throw their doors open this week for extended trading hours ahead of Santa Claus’ visit.

It comes as business figures remain optimistic that high inflation won’t cripple consumer spending in the final days before Christmas.

Australian Retailers Association CEO Paul Zahra said the massive influx of immigrants to the country, as well as inflated retail prices, meant overall turnover would be just 0.6 per cent higher than 2022, despite families tightening their belts.

“We expect to do $9 billion this week with last minute shopping and as we get down to the last week, it’s about setting the Christmas table – seafood, fish, lobsters, oysters, champagne, Christmas pudding – those gourmet treats are all of interest as we get closer to Christmas Day,” he said.

“People are definitely out there looking for deals – and retailers have responded by trying to get the best value offers to customers.”

Last minute shoppers Alicia Garcia- Rojas and Alex Palmer at Westfield Parramatta.

Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou said their latest survey of members showed that businesses were withstanding the cost of living crunch, with 73 per cent saying they would maintain their employee headcount over Christmas, with another 17 per cent saying they’d hire additional staff.

“As we count down the last shopping days before Christmas, CBD businesses including retail are displaying their fantastic resilience in the face of the cost of living crisis and its impact on discretionary spending,” he said.

“It will be great if Sydneysiders turn our business community’s resilience into a reality by coming into the CBD to make the most of Christmas in the city.”

Shopping hotspots across Sydney will throw their doors open for late trading this week in a bid to accommodate the last-minute Christmas rush.

Westfield Sydney will jump from a 7pm closing time to 10pm on Wednesday, with extended trading hours continuing until Friday.

Shoppers at Westfield Parramatta will get even longer hours to peruse stores, with closing times extended to 9pm until Tuesday, before they extend to 10pm on Wednesday, and midnight on Thursday and Friday.

The iconic Queen Victoria Building and its range of high-end shops will get extended trading hours from Thursday to Saturday, with the grand old building open from 9am to 9pm.

DFO Homebush will also provide a late-night shopping option for those looking to grab last minute presents, with extended trading hours to 7pm until December 23, with the exception of Thursday December 21 – when the outlet will stay open until 8pm.

Those who prefer doing their shopping online better take heed of warning from Amazon and Australia Post this week, with the cut-off to order parcels – and have them arrive in time for Christmas – rapidly approaching.

Most Amazon Prime members including those in Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle and Gosford and Canberra to be able to shop select items up to December 22 to receive them in time for Christmas, with free delivery. Non-Prime customers will be able to order select items in the week leading up to the big day to receive them in time, or select a paid delivery option for faster delivery where available.

Shani Crisp and Nazeem Baret get some last-minute shopping done at Westfield Parramatta.

Likewise, those relying on Australia Post to send through treats and trinkets need to have their parcel mailed off by today (December 18) and December 21 for express post.

One pair looking to beat the Christmas rush and snag a bargain was Oran Park couple Adrian Godfrey and Minela Addison, shopping at Parramatta Westfield on Sunday.

“We’re budgeting a bit more carefully, but I think Christmas is still Christmas,” Ms Addison said.

“We’re still buying a lot of toys for nieces, nephews, the younger parts of the family.”

Bella Vista couple Shani Crisp and Nazeem Barea had mainly focused on getting clothes and toys for the children in their families.

“This is the last bit of it, we haven’t gone crazy on the presents,” Ms Crisp said.

“I usually shop earlier than this, we’ve been a bit lazy this year.”

“We started a week or so ago,” Mr Barea added. “We haven’t been going as hard as we would.”

Castle Hill residents Alex Palmer and Alicia Garcia-Rojas were reluctant to take advantage of the later hours in stores, as crowds descend on businesses.

“It’d be way too busy then,” Mr Palmer said.

“We’re at about the middle of our shopping, there’s just too much to do.

“I just buy one person at a time after I go to the gym around here.”

The pair were also valuing convenience whenever possible.

“There hasn’t been a budget really, I’m a bit silly around this time of year,” Ms Garcia-Rojas said.

“We’re mainly shopping online, but you run out of time earlier that way.”

Originally published as Opening hours of Sydney shopping centres over Christmas week