You’ve probably noticed the cheerful “Down Down” banners at your local Coles and wondered if the discounts are as good as they seem. For shoppers at Coles Australia Fair on the Gold Coast, the answer may be more complicated than the shelf tag suggests — and it’s tied to a national legal battle over pricing claims that could change how every supermarket advertises savings. This guide gives you the store-level facts and the broader context.
Location: 223-225 Scarborough St, Southport QLD 4215 ·
Opening hours: 7am – 9pm daily ·
ACCC case size (Coles): 245 products ·
ACCC case size (Woolworths): 266 products
Quick snapshot
- Coles Australia Fair is at 223-225 Scarborough St, Southport (Coles official store locator)
- Phone: (07) 5668 4900 (Coles official store locator)
- Open 7am–9pm every day (Coles official store locator)
- Exact holiday hours may vary
- Current impact of the pricing scandal on in-store operations is not publicly known
- Exact launch year of the ‘Down Down’ campaign is disputed (some sources say 2010, others 2014)
- 1914: Coles founded (Coles corporate history page)
- 2014: ‘Down Down’ campaign launched (Coles corporate history page)
- 2015: $10 million penalty for misleading pricing (ACCC media release)
- 2024: ACCC launches new court action over alleged illusory discounts (ACCC media release)
- Federal Court will determine penalties and declarations
- Shoppers may see changes to shelf-tag practices
Here are the essential details about Coles Australia Fair.
| Location | 223-225 Scarborough St, Southport QLD 4215 |
| Typical opening hours | 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM (may vary seasonally) |
| Phone number | (07) 5668 4900 |
| Number of Coles stores in Australia | 832 supermarkets (2023) – data from Coles Group annual report |
| Coles founded | 1914 |
| Owner | Coles Group (ASX: COL) |
Does Australia Fair have Coles?
Where exactly is Coles located at Australia Fair?
Yes, Coles operates a full-size supermarket inside the Australia Fair Shopping Centre. The official address is 223-225 Scarborough Street, Southport QLD 4215, on the lower level near the centre’s main mall. The store is easily accessible from the Scarborough Street entrance and sits alongside more than 290 specialty retailers within the centre.
While the store is large, parking during peak hours can be tight because Australia Fair serves both Southport residents and visitors to the Gold Coast light rail terminus nearby.
What are the opening hours of Coles Australia Fair?
- Monday – Sunday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- These hours are consistent year-round but may extend during the December holiday season. The store does not have separate public‑holiday timetables listed online.
The implication: Coles Australia Fair serves the everyday needs of most shoppers, but its fixed hours exclude the early and late crowd.
Where is Australia Fair on the Gold Coast?
What is the address of Australia Fair Shopping Centre?
The shopping centre’s postal address is 42 Marine Parade, Southport QLD 4215, though the Coles entrance is on Scarborough Street. Australia Fair sits directly across from the Gold Coast Broadwater and is a landmark in the Southport precinct.
How to get to Australia Fair by public transport?
- Light rail: The G:link stops at “Southport South” station, a 2‑minute walk from the centre’s Marine Parade entrance.
- Bus: Multiple Translink bus routes (704, 705, 709, 715) serve the Southport bus interchange adjacent to the centre.
- Car: Paid parking is available on site; the centre offers 2 hours free with validation from any retailer including Coles.
What this means: Australia Fair is well‑served by public transport, making the Coles store accessible without a car for many Gold Coast residents.
What is Coles known for in Australia?
When was Coles founded?
Coles was founded in 1914 by George James Coles in Collingwood, Victoria. It began as a single variety store and grew into one of the country’s two dominant supermarket chains (Coles corporate history page).
What is the difference between Coles and Woolworths?
Both chains offer similar product ranges, but Woolworths holds a slightly larger market share — roughly 37% compared to Coles’ 28% as of 2023. Woolworths also operates more stores nationally. Price positioning is nearly identical; the main difference is that Woolworths runs “Prices Dropped” promotions while Coles uses “Down Down”.
Who is bigger, Coles or Woolworths?
Market share comparison
The table below shows how Coles and Woolworths stack up.
| Metric | Coles | Woolworths |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated market share (grocery) | 28% | 37% |
| Number of supermarkets (Australia) | 832 (2023) | ~1,100 (2023) |
| Products in ACCC litigation (2024) | 245 | 266 |
The ACCC alleges both chains used similar tactics: raising prices for a short period then promoting the inflated price as a “was” price. Woolworths’ conduct spanned 20 months, Coles’ 15 months (ACCC media release with product counts).
For shoppers at Coles Australia Fair, the difference in size between the two chains is irrelevant if both are accused of misleading discounts. The core question is whether any “sale” price is genuine.
The pattern: Market dominance does not guarantee fair pricing — the legal action targets both chains equally.
What is the Coles pricing scandal?
What was the ‘Down Down’ campaign?
Coles launched the “Down Down” promotional program in 2010. The campaign used yellow shelf tickets with a “was” price and a “now” price to signal a discount. In September 2024, the ACCC took Coles to the Federal Court alleging that many of those “was” prices were not genuine regular prices but temporary spikes, making the discount “illusory” (ACCC media release stating the allegations). The same court action also targets Woolworths’ “Prices Dropped” campaign.
What was the court ruling?
The Federal Court has not yet ruled on the 2024 case. However, this is not Coles’ first brush with misleading pricing. In 2015, the court ordered Coles to pay a $10 million penalty for a previous “Down Down” infraction. Former ACCC chairman Allan Fels described the new case as “the case of the century” (YouTube report covering Fels’ comment).
Two different investigations, a decade apart, and the same core allegation: that Coles used price spikes to make discounts look bigger than they were. For consumers, the risk is paying more than the true everyday price even when a “Down Down” tag is present.
The implication: The repeated allegations suggest a systemic issue, not an isolated incident.
Timeline signal
- – Coles founded in Collingwood, Victoria. (Coles corporate history page)
- – “Down Down” promotional program launched. (Coles corporate history page)
- – Federal Court imposes $10 million penalty for misleading “Down Down” claims. (ACCC media release)
- – ACCC commences new Federal Court proceedings alleging Coles and Woolworths misled consumers with illusory discounts. (ACCC media release)
What’s confirmed vs. what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Coles has a store at Australia Fair Shopping Centre
(Coles official store locator) - The ACCC is suing Coles over “Down Down” pricing
(ACCC media release) - Woolworths has a larger market share than Coles
(comparative data from ACCC case context)
What’s unclear
- Exact opening hours of Coles Australia Fair during holiday periods
- Current impact of the 2024 ACCC case on everyday pricing at the store
Perspectives on the pricing case
“The ACCC alleges the discounts were illusory.”
— Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC media release)
“Former ACCC boss Allan Fels called the case ‘the case of the century’.”
— Reported by a YouTube news segment (YouTube report on Coles ACCC case)
The Coles Australia Fair store offers convenient hours and a full range of groceries, but the national legal action against its parent company casts a shadow over the trustworthiness of its promotional prices. For Gold Coast shoppers, the practical consequence is clear: rely less on “Down Down” tags and more on unit pricing or price‑matching apps — or the next ruling could change how every supermarket labels its sales.
Frequently asked questions
Does Australia Fair have parking for Coles?
Yes, Australia Fair Shopping Centre offers paid parking with 2 hours free when you shop at any store including Coles.
Can I order online from Coles Australia Fair?
Yes, Coles Australia Fair supports Coles Online click & collect and home delivery via the Coles website or app.
Does Coles Australia Fair have a butcher and delicatessen?
Yes, the store includes a service butcher, delicatessen, bakery, and a fresh produce section.
What other grocery stores are at Australia Fair?
Australia Fair also has a Woolworths supermarket, making it one of the few Gold Coast centres with both major chains under one roof.
How do I contact Coles Australia Fair?
You can call the store directly at (07) 5668 4900 during opening hours.
Is there a Woolworths at Australia Fair too?
Yes, Woolworths operates a store on the opposite side of the centre.
What are the holiday hours for Coles Australia Fair?
Holiday hours are not officially published; it’s best to call the store or check the Coles store locator around public holidays.
Ryan Hughes is Senior Reporter at Coast Monitor, covering breaking stories and explainers.