An American expatriate living on Australia’s Gold Coast has ignited a fresh round of discussion regarding what she considers one of the most perplexing aspects of Australian life: the lack of 24-hour supermarkets.
Crystal Chanel, who regularly shares her observations about cultural differences online, has been documenting the quirks she finds difficult to adjust to since moving to Australia. Her latest video focuses on Australia’s early retail closing times, arguing that the country urgently needs 24-hour supermarkets.
‘In Australia, everything closes by five o’clock,’ she told her followers. ‘Thursdays we have late night shopping. Everything closes by like seven or nine. We need like a Walmart or something out here that’s open 24/7, because what happens when you run out of something or there’s an emergency, you need diapers or medicine. What are you going to do?’
Her question resonated with many, with some defending Australia’s opening hours and others agreeing that they are outdated.
‘I always thought late night shopping was Thursdays until I moved to Melbourne. Now Brisbane really makes no sense to me,’ one viewer commented.
Responses to the Debate
Several countered her argument by pointing out existing late-night options. ‘There are 24-hour pharmacies, [and] Kmart is open till midnight,’ one person stated.
Another added, ‘Kmart closes 11pm in quite a few locations. There are 24-hour pharmacies. Servos sell most basics like nappies, food, milk etc.’
However, others highlighted the inconsistencies across different cities. ‘People saying she’s wrong clearly don’t live in Adelaide,’ one commenter joked, implying that Adelaide has even fewer late-night options.
Sydney’s Perceived Lack of Nightlife
The same sentiment has been expressed about Sydney, which many visitors expect to be a bustling 24-hour city, only to find that it often has the same closing times as a smaller town. Visitors, both from overseas and interstate, have said they were ‘shocked’ to see shops and restaurants closed and public transport virtually nonexistent so early in the evening.
Factors Contributing to Early Closing Times
One of the primary reasons cited for these early closing times is the high cost of labour. Penalty rates for employees make it financially unviable for many businesses to stay open after 5pm, with rates of pay for shift work ranging from 1.5 times normal pay during the week to double pay on weekends.
Experiences of Other Expats
TikTok user Jenny Tian highlighted the limited availability of services after typical business hours. She pointed out that it’s often difficult to get a coffee past 2pm, as most cafes have closed, shops close by 5pm, and restaurants stop serving food by 9pm. She also noted that many former ‘party areas’ have been converted to housing, and those needing public transport at night should be prepared for long waits.
Other expatriates who have moved to Sydney have also shared their frustrations with the early closing times.
‘What are the real reasons/challenges behind the lack of night activities (putting aside some bars and kebab shops)? And why the city is not vibrant and 24-hour even though there is a big percentage of Sydney’s population who like staying up late?’ one person asked on Reddit.
Another person shared a similar experience: ‘I moved to Sydney from Asia in 2016 and was so surprised to find out that most establishments close so early. Pharmacies, salons, retailers, cafes, restaurants, malls all close before 7pm. It’s just dead everywhere and this was even pre-pandemic.’
Locals Weigh In
Most Australians were quick to agree with these observations, while visitors said they were ‘shocked’ to discover how ‘dead’ the city can be on weeknights.
‘Sydney is the opposite of a 24-hour city,’ one Australian commented. Another said, ‘I left Sydney in 2004, it was a 24-hour city…moved back in 2017…dead.’
The coffee culture, or lack thereof in the evenings, was also a point of contention. ‘Coffee shops closing at 2pm in Australia was an absolute culture shock. Where I’m from we drink coffee after dinner at 10pm,’ one person wrote.
Others pointed out that the same holds true for most Australian capital cities besides Melbourne, which is generally considered to have a more vibrant nightlife.
Points of contention:
- Labour Costs: High penalty rates for employees make it expensive for businesses to operate late into the night.
- Cultural Differences: Compared to other countries, particularly in Asia and America, Australia has a different approach to late-night commerce.
- City-Specific Variations: The availability of late-night options varies significantly between Australian cities, with Melbourne generally considered the most vibrant.
- Changing Urban Landscape: The conversion of former entertainment areas into residential zones has contributed to the decline of nightlife in some cities.
- Public Transport: Limited public transport options at night make it difficult for people to stay out late, particularly in cities other than Melbourne.