Remember This? $1.25 Superpie and Hot Chips meal at Coles Restaurants (1981)

Source: Coles. 1981. "Pie & Chips" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, August 31: 27. 

In 1981, Coles Restaurants were offering for $1.25 a Superpie and hot chips

According to the RBA Inflation Calculator, the offer would be equivalent to a person spending about $6.17 today. Fantastic offer.

For soft drinks, there was a special offer during the school holiday period: refills cost just 30 cents. It would be equivalent to spending $1.48 today, which, depending on your view, may be a good value for money or not worth it. Typically, if you want another drink at a fast food outlet or a fast casual restaurant, you would pay full price, e.g. a large drink at McDonald's costs $6.00.

1992: Coles commences 24 hour trading

The situation with COVID-19 has led to a relaxation of trading laws for supermarkets to allow for shoppers to purchase necessities for the home.

But Supermarkets have had the right to trade 24 hours for nearly three decades. Coles took the initiative in 1992 when their supermarkets at Lindfield and Ramsgate began offering 24 hour trading. It lasted for much of the 1990's. This was part of the deregulation of shopping hours, which benefited supermarkets more than other retailers. They could open early and trade late.

Busier supermarkets usually trade 6am-midnight each day of the week.

Below is an article from The Daily Telegraph Mirror in 1992.

Source: De Vine, B. 1992. "Shop, shop, shop 'til broad daylight". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, June 23: 3.

Birth of Thursday Night Shopping III (1971): Newspaper Advertisements

In this third entry on the Birth of Thursday Night shopping in Sydney, I would like to share some of the advertisements that featured in the afternoon dailies - The Daily Mirror & The Sun.

Parts one and two focus on coverage from selected newspapers.

The shopping centre chains ran their own advertisements inviting shoppers to take advantage of the extra trading hours.

Westfield

Lend Lease Shopping Centres

Roselands

I also found advertisements from retailers promoting Thursday Night trading along with their Christmas offerings from 1971.

Grace Bros

David Jones

Gowings

Farmers

Waltons

Woolworths

Coles

Flemings

Horderns

Nock & Kirbys