Lyla Lindsey
Big W is a discount department store that has been operating in Australia for generations. The first Big W store opened in 1964, and since then, the company has expanded to various locations across the country. As of 2025, there are approximately 179 to 353 Big W stores in Australia, with New South Wales having the highest number of stores. Big W offers a wide range of products, including clothing, homewares, electronics, toys, and books, making it a popular one-stop shop for Australian customers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of stores in Australia | 179 as of April 8, 2025; another source states 186 |
| State with the most stores | New South Wales |
| Number of stores in New South Wales | 59, or 33% of all stores in Australia |
| First store location and year | Outskirts of Newcastle, New South Wales in 1964 |
| First discount department store location and year | Tamworth in 1976 |
| First small-format store location and year | Town Hall, Sydney in August 2022 |
| Number of optometry stores closed in 2019 | 41 |
| Number of job losses from optometry store closures | 175 |
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What You'll Learn
- Optometry services were offered in 41 stores across Australia until 2019
- The first Big W store opened in 1964, in Newcastle, New South Wales
- Big W has 179-186 stores across Australia, as of 2025
- The company opened its first small-format store in 2022, in Sydney
- Big W was the second company in Australia to introduce self-checkouts
Optometry services were offered in 41 stores across Australia until 2019
Big W is a popular retail chain with over 350 stores across Australia. The retailer offers a wide range of products, including optical services, which were once available in select stores.
Optometry services were offered in 41 Big W stores across Australia until 2019. Big W Optical provided customers with eye examinations and optical products, including prescription lenses. The service was well-known for its convenient locations within Big W stores and its competitive pricing.
Big W Optical played a significant role in providing accessible optometry services to communities across Australia. By integrating optical services into their retail stores, Big W made it more convenient for customers to take care of their vision needs while they shopped for other goods. This integration of health and retail services offered a unique shopping experience.
However, in 2019, Big W made the decision to close its optical services division. Past and present patients were informed that their health records would be retained by Big W and could be transferred to them or another practice of their choice upon request. Big W Optical's closure also impacted the retailer's returns policy for optical products, with customers directed to the customer service desk for any optical return requests.
The closure of Big W Optical marked the end of an era for the retailer, but the company remains committed to serving its customers and communities. While optical services are no longer offered, Big W continues to focus on providing a diverse range of products and services to meet the needs of Australian shoppers.
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The first Big W store opened in 1964, in Newcastle, New South Wales
The first Big W store opened its doors in 1964, on the outskirts of Newcastle, New South Wales. This marked the beginning of what would become a prominent discount department store chain in Australia, offering a wide range of general merchandise. Big W was developed by Woolworths Limited (now Woolworths Group Limited) to provide Australian shoppers with a comprehensive range of products under one roof. The W in the name stands for Woolworths, reflecting the connection between the two brands.
Over the years, Big W expanded its presence across Australia, with stores featuring garden centres and, later, optometry services. However, the optometry venture was short-lived, and by 2019, all 41 optometry stores within Big W had closed. The company refocused its efforts on its core retail offerings, including women's, men's, and children's wear, as well as homewares, electronics, toys, and books.
As of 2025, there are varying reports on the exact number of Big W stores in Australia. One source indicates that there are 179 stores across the country as of April 2025, with New South Wales boasting the highest number at 59 stores. Another source mentions a total of 186 stores operating in Australia.
Big W has continued to innovate and adapt to the changing retail landscape. In 2022, they opened their first small-format store in Town Hall, Sydney, and in 2023, they launched Big W Market, an online marketplace for third-party sellers. With a presence in multiple states and territories, Big W has become a trusted name in Australian retail, known for its convenience and diverse product offerings.
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Big W has 179-186 stores across Australia, as of 2025
As of 2025, Big W has between 179 and 186 stores across Australia. The discrepancy in the number of stores may be due to the dynamic nature of the business, with new stores being opened and others closed. For instance, in August 2022, Big W opened its first small-format store in Town Hall, Sydney, and in November 2023, they launched an online marketplace.
Big W is Australia's first discount department store, opening its first store in Newcastle, New South Wales, in 1964. The Big W name was resurrected in 1976 with a new store in Tamworth, which was the first to adopt the successful discount department store format that continues today. Big W stores are known for offering a wide range of products, including women's, men's, and children's wear, as well as homewares, electronics, toys, and books, making them a popular one-stop shop for customers across Australia.
The state with the most Big W stores is New South Wales, with 59 stores as of April 2025, accounting for about 33% of all Big W stores in the country. Big W has continuously evolved its stores, introducing garden centres in the 1980s and self-checkouts in 2003. However, they started phasing out their garden centres in 2023 due to poor sales of live plants.
Big W has a strong presence across Australia, with a range of store formats, including small-format stores and online marketplaces, in addition to their large-format discount department stores. The exact number of stores may vary over time as the company adapts to the market and the needs of its customers.
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The company opened its first small-format store in 2022, in Sydney
BIG W, an Australian discount department store chain, opened its first small-format store in August 2022 in Town Hall, Sydney. The company was founded in regional New South Wales in 1964 and has since expanded to operate 179 stores as of 2024, with approximately 18,000 employees.
The new small-format store in Sydney marks a significant step for the company, which traditionally featured larger stores with a broad range of general merchandise. BIG W's original stores were full-line department stores, similar to Myer and David Jones. Over time, the company evolved, and in 1976, the first BIG W discount department store opened in Tamworth, solidifying the successful discount department store format that continues to thrive today.
The small-format store in Sydney is a strategic move by BIG W to adapt to changing market demands and consumer preferences. It allows the company to optimise its product offerings and retail space while maintaining its commitment to providing a diverse range of products. This includes clothing, health and beauty, kitchenware, toys, pet items, office supplies, books, electronics, and more, both on its website and in physical stores.
The opening of the small-format store in Sydney also aligns with BIG W's sustainability initiatives. The company has expressed its commitment to building a better tomorrow through more sustainable packaging and waste reduction practices. By optimising its store formats, BIG W can reduce its environmental footprint and cater to consumers' increasing demand for eco-friendly options.
BIG W's expansion and adaptation showcase its ability to stay agile and responsive to market trends and consumer needs. With its first small-format store, the company reinforces its position as a leading retailer in Australia, offering convenience, variety, and a dedication to environmental responsibility.
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Big W was the second company in Australia to introduce self-checkouts
Big W is a popular chain of stores in Australia, with 353 stores across the country. The company has a strong focus on community and environmental initiatives.
In terms of technology, Big W was an early adopter of self-checkouts in Australia. Self-checkouts, also known as assisted checkouts or self-service checkouts, are machines that enable customers to complete transactions without a staffed checkout. While some customers appreciate the convenience and speed of self-checkouts, others find them confusing and frustrating.
The introduction of self-checkouts in Big W stores was part of a broader trend. The first self-checkout machines were designed and patented in the 1990s, but their usage expanded in the early 2000s. The machines were conceived as a cost-effective and time-saving alternative to traditional checkouts.
Over time, self-checkouts have evolved to address some of the challenges. For instance, the irritating and bossy voice that chastised customers for errors has been replaced with more pleasant alternatives. Additionally, technology improvements have made it easier to scan certain items, such as fruits and vegetables.
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Frequently asked questions
As of April 2025, there were 179 Big W stores in Australia. However, one source states that there are 186 stores, while another mentions 353 store locations.
Big W stores are located across Australia, with the state and territory with the most stores being New South Wales, with 59 stores. The first Big W store opened on the outskirts of Newcastle, New South Wales, in 1964.
Big W is a discount department store that sells a broad range of general merchandise products, including women's, men's, and children's wear, as well as homewares, electronics, toys, and books.
Big W stores have offered optometry services in the past, but these were closed down in 2019. The stores also featured garden centres until they were phased out in 2023 due to poor sales.
