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Retail Trading

Retail trading hours in the City of Albany are governed by the State Government's Retail Trading Hours Act 1987.

Different trading hours apply to the different categories of shops that are defined by the Act.

For example, many businesses in Albany are Small Retail Shops. These shops are able to trade 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year.

Special Retail Shops such as hardware shops and pharmacies are also able to have extended trading hours.

General Retail Shops (such as Coles and Woolworths) do not have extended trading hours.

The categories are detailed below (source: Department of Commerce).

General Retail Shops

All shops are regarded as general retail shops unless they fall under any one of the other categories. Shops in the General Retail Shop category include large supermarket chains such as Woolworths and Coles. These shops have standard trading hours:

Trading hours

  • Monday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Tuesday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Wednesday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Thursday 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
  • Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Saturday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Sunday - CLOSED

The City regularly applies to temporarily extend trading hours (including Sunday trading) for General Retail Shops in peak periods or other special circumstances.

Small Retail Shops

Shops in this category can trade 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

In part, small retail shops are shops owned by up to six people who operate no more than three retail shops, in which up to 18 people work at any one time (people employed as apprentices are not included in maximum permitted staffing numbers).

Special Retail Shops

Shops in this category can trade from 6am to 11:30pm every day of the year.

Special retail shops are considered necessary for emergency, convenience or recreation goods.

Special retail shops include:

  • pharmacies;
  • garden nurseries;
  • hardware and home improvement shops;
  • newsagencies and bookshops;
  • video shops;
  • art and craft shops;
  • souvenir and duty free shops;
  • shops at sports venues;
  • boating shops;
  • motor vehicle spare parts shops; and
  • shops at international standard hotels.

Other categories

Other categories include Service Stations and Motor Vehicle Shops (car yards), which are detailed at Consumer Protection WA - retail trading hours

Temporary Extended Trading Hours

The City of Albany regularly applies to extend trading hours in peak periods or other special circumstances. During these times, the City will adhere to the standard Retail Trading Hours applied in the Metropolitan Area being:

  • 8am – 9pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
  • 8am – 5pm Saturday
  • 10am – 5pm Sunday
  • 10am – 5pm Public holidays
  • CLOSED Christmas Day, Good Friday and ANZAC Day.

Peak Times

Christmas and New Year Period (1 December to 31 January inclusive) Easter Holidays (Easter Saturday to Easter Monday inclusive), public holiday long weekends, and public holidays excluding Christmas day and Good Friday.

Special Circumstances

At other such times that there is expected to be an influx of people to the City at a time external to usual trading hours.

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