CBD shop trading hours extended for Adelaide’s festival season

The extended hours will ensure that CBD stores are able to take advantage of the significant tourism activity in the city around ‘Mad March’ and provide additional employment opportunities for workers during those periods.

According to data from the Adelaide Economic Development Agency, last year’s extended trading hours boosted foot traffic in Rundle Mall by 22 per cent, compared to the 12-month average for Saturdays.

City-wide spending also surged, increasing by 18 per cent over the same period.

Workers will not be required to work these extra hours unless they voluntarily agree.

Last year, the extra hours on Black Friday and in the lead up to Christmas helped to twice break the record for the most money spent in the city in a single day, with nearly $25 million spent citywide on Friday 20 December 2024.