Our Story

The Famous Arthur Daley’s started as a pop-up shop on Swanston Street in Melbourne's central business district in 1992. Under the trading name "The Famous Arthur Daley’s Clearance House", we served thousands of city shoppers at a time when city bargain basements were closing.

“The secret of a good retail store is range,” said owner-operator and retail veteran, Peter A. Ferne. “At The Famous Arthur Daley’s, we pride ourselves in offering full ranges in all our 30 departments, such as party supplies, art and craft, greeting cards, stationery as well as our seasonal ranges including Easter, Halloween and Christmas.”

Naming the business after the character Arthur Daley from the British television series 'Minder', Peter saw an opportunity to help out manufacturers struggling to clear excess stock, discontinued lines and cancelled store orders.

After moving to a number of temporary Melbourne city locations along Swanston Street from 1992 to 1995, we finally settled in the Basement, 33-37 Swanston Street in 1999. This cemented our name and reputation as a city bargain basement offering low prices over 30 departments.

In 2007, we embarked on a regional store expansion, launching our first regional retail outlet in the Basement, 131 Moorabool Street, Geelong. However, the popularity of big retail complexes in the area pulled foot traffic away, and, in mid-2012, we closed our doors for good in Geelong.

In December 2012, we took The Famous Arthur Daley’s name and reputation to Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs when we launched The Famous Arthur Daley’s Warehouse Clearance Sale, at 1136 Burwood Highway, Ferntree Gully. For the first time, customers could enjoy unlimited free parking while shopping.

In 2015, we handed the keys of our Swanston Street store to new owners, marking the end of our 23-year era in Melbourne city.

In November 2022, we opened a Melbourne CBD pop-up store at 67 Swanston Street, Melbourne, to meet the needs of city workers and visitors seeking bargains. Operations ceased in April 2023.

In October 2024, we launched our second Ferntree Gully superstore at Shop 2, 802 Burwood Highway. The original store, at 1136 Burwood Highway, now operates as a clearance outlet and will close its doors for good on December 26, 2024.

Today, The Famous Arthur Daley’s remains Melbourne’s largest discount variety superstore - a first-stop-shop for savvy shoppers looking for everyday, lifestyle, seasonal and party items at affordable prices. Our shoppers understand the importance of value and have the confidence to shop till they drop and still walk out with change in the pocket.

Our Story