As the festive season gets into full swing, Australians are stocking their fridges and cellars for celebrations with family and friends. Whether it's a last-minute dash before a Christmas barbeque or securing champagne for a New Year's Eve toast, knowing when your local bottle shop is open is essential for hassle-free hosting and guest appearances.
Major Retailers' Festive Season Schedules
To help you plan, here is a comprehensive guide to the holiday trading hours for the nation's leading liquor retailers. Remember, while these are the general guidelines, all trading hours are store-specific and can vary. Customers are strongly advised to use each retailer's online store locator to confirm the exact times for their nearest outlet.
Dan Murphy's Nationwide Hours
Dan Murphy's stores will be open across the country throughout the festive period, with the sole exception of Christmas Day. The standard national trading schedule is as follows:
- Christmas Eve, December 24: Open 9am to 9pm.
- Christmas Day, December 25: All stores CLOSED.
- Boxing Day, December 26: Open 9am to 8pm (9am to 7pm in Victoria).
- Saturday, December 27 & Sunday, December 28: Open 10am to 7pm.
- New Year's Eve, December 31: Open 9am to 9pm.
- New Year's Day, January 1: Open 10am to 6pm.
- Australia Day, January 26: Stores in Victoria, SA, and WA open 10am-7pm; Queensland and NSW stores open 9am-7pm.
BWS Trading Information
BWS stores will also remain open nationally over the holidays, again closing only for Christmas Day. However, trading hours will vary significantly by location.
On key dates like Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, many stores will have extended trading beyond their regular closing times. For all specific dates—including Boxing Day, New Year's Day, and Australia Day—customers must check the details for their local store via the BWS store locator online.
Liquorland State-by-State Guide
Liquorland operations will see most stores open, but with important state-based exceptions, particularly on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
In Victoria, most stores are closed Christmas Day, except for Abbotsford and Bairnsdale Main St. In Queensland, several stores will be closed on New Year's Day, including Coorparoo, Toowong Station, and Milton Village. South Australia has a list of stores closed on Boxing Day and another list closed on New Year's Day, including Greenacres, Gawler Green, and Firle.
Tasmania presents the most exceptions, with numerous stores such as Launceston City and Hobart Gasworks open on Christmas Day. In the Northern Territory, all stores are open on Christmas Eve except for Alice Springs, which will also be closed on Australia Day.
Vintage Cellars (Now Liquorland Cellars)
Stores under the Vintage Cellars banner, now rebranded as Liquorland Cellars in Queensland, NSW, and Victoria, will follow a standard pattern. All stores will be open on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day. They will be closed on Christmas Day. As with all retailers, verifying local hours via the store locator is recommended.
Plan Ahead to Avoid Disappointment
With varying hours and some store-specific closures, the key takeaway for Aussie consumers is to plan ahead. A quick online check using the official store locators for Dan Murphy's, BWS, or Liquorland can save a wasted trip during the busy festive rush. This ensures your celebrations are fully stocked, letting you focus on enjoying the well-earned cheer with your loved ones.
