The Famous Arthur Daley’s began as a humble pop-up shop on Swanston Street in Melbourne's bustling Central Business District in 1992. Trading under the name "The Famous Arthur Daley’s Clearance House", we quickly became a go-to destination for city shoppers during a time when traditional bargain basements were disappearing.

 

Peter A. Ferne, our founder, owner-operator, and a retail veteran, said, “The secret to a good retail store is range.”

 

At The Famous Arthur Daley’s, we've always been proud to offer a vast selection across over 30 departments, from party supplies, and art and craft, to greeting cards, stationery and seasonal items such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas. Our customers know they can find great value and still have money left in their pockets after a shopping spree.

 

Inspired by the character Arthur Daley from the British TV show 'Minder', Peter saw an opportunity to help out manufacturers clear excess stock, discontinued lines, and cancelled orders, offering Melbourne's bargain hunters the best deals around.

 

Our Journey: A Timeline of Growth

 

1992- 1999, Melbourne's CBD

After moving through a series of temporary locations on Swanston Street, we settled into the Basement, 33-37 Swanston Street, Melbourne in 1999. This marked the beginning of our legacy as Melbourne's go-to bargain basement, offering unbeatable prices across 30 departments.

 

2007-2012: Geelong Expansion

In 2007, we opened our first regional store at the Basement, 131 Moorabool Street, Geelong. However, the rise of large retail complexes in the area saw foot traffic dwindle, and in mid-2012, we made the decision to close our Geelong store.

 

2012: Foray into Ferntree Gully

In December 2012, we took our brand to the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, opening our first suburban shop at 1136 Burwood Highway, Ferntree Gully. For the first time, our customers could enjoy unlimited free parking while shopping - making it even easier to score a bargain.

 

2015: Farewell to Melbourne's CBD

After 23 years of trading in Melbourne's city centre, we handed over the keys to our Basement, 33-37 Swanston Street, Melbourne store in 2015, marking the end of an era after the new owner-operator started trading under a new name Arthur Daley's on Swanston Street. But we're not done yet! 

 

2022: Pop-Up Store in Melbourne's CBD

In November 2022, we returned to Melbourne's CBD with a pop-up store at 67 Swanston Street, Melbourne. This short-tern venture catered to city workers and visitors looking for great deals. We traded until April 2023.

 

2024: A New Superstore in Ferntree Gully

In October 2024, we expanded in Ferntree Gully with a new second superstore at Shop 2, 802 Burwood Highway, Burwood Highway, offering even more variety and better convenience for our loyal customers.

 

2025: Farewell to 1136, Burwood Highway, Ferntree Gully

In 7 January 2025, after 12 years of trading at 1136 Burwood Highway, Ferntree Gully, we closed our original Ferntree Gully location. All of our selling, administrative, and warehouse operations have now moved to Shop 2, 802 Burwood Highway, Ferntree Gully, continuing to provide the best bargains for our customers.

 

Today, The Famous Arthur Daley’s is Melbourne’s largest independent discount variety superstore, continung to grow as the first-stop shop for families in Melbourne's southeast. We remain committed to offering an incredible range of everyday, lifestyle, seasonal, and party items at accessible prices - all under one roof at Shop 2, 802 Burwood Highway, Ferntree Gully.