Most major supermarkets, big-box retailers and bottle shops are open on Australia Day, but hours are reduced and vary a lot by state and even by store.

Big supermarkets and discount stores

  • Coles : Generally open nationwide with near-normal or public-holiday hours, but some metro stores in states with stricter trading laws (especially South Australia) may be closed or limited.
  • Woolworths & Big W: Most stores trade across the long weekend, including Australia Day, with reduced public-holiday hours in some parts of SA, regional Queensland and Western Australia, and a few CBD closures.
  • Kmart/Target : Often open in major centres with typical public-holiday hours (for example, one centre lists Kmart 9am–6pm, Target 9am–5pm, Big W 10am–5pm on the Australia Day holiday).

Hardware and DIY

  • Bunnings Warehouse : Expected to be open nationwide on Australia Day with public-holiday trading hours; trade centres are more likely to be closed.

Bottle shops and liquor

  • Dan Murphy’s : Open with shorter public-holiday hours (often around 10am–6/7pm), varying by state.
  • BWS : Open Australia-wide but with varying, often reduced, hours.
  • Liquorland / Vintage Cellars / First Choice : Most stores open, though some locations in WA, QLD, NT and certain suburbs may be closed due to local regulations.

Shopping centres and smaller chains

  • Many suburban shopping centres open with public-holiday hours, for example: supermarkets 9am–6pm, Kmart 9am–6pm, Big W 10am–5pm, and specialty stores often 10am–4pm with individual variation.
  • Some independent supermarket chains list detailed Australia Day hours with a mix of open and closed stores, especially in South Australia, and broadly reduced hours in Queensland.

What usually closes or is restricted

  • In South Australia , many metro supermarkets and some larger stores stay closed for the whole day, with only selected CBD or regional outlets trading.
  • Some regional and remote locations in WA, QLD and NT may close entirely or trade on very short hours, especially liquor outlets.

How to quickly check your local shops

Because trading laws differ by state and even by council, and 2026 public- holiday rules can change close to the date, always:

  • Use the store’s online locator (Coles, Woolworths, Big W, Kmart, Bunnings, Dan Murphy’s, BWS, Liquorland etc.) to confirm Australia Day hours for your exact location.
  • Check your local shopping centre’s website for its “Australia Day public holiday trading hours” page; these often list typical hours for supermarkets, majors and specialty stores.

In practice, if you are in a big city you can expect most supermarkets, major department/discount stores, and big bottle shops to be open on Australia Day, but often starting later, closing earlier, or with some exceptions in stricter states like South Australia.