Nationally, more than $2.1 billion was expected to be spent on Boxing Day alone, based on information from the Australian National Retailers' Association (ANRA), including $627 million in NSW.

A steady stream of would-be shoppers were seen trying to access Dubbo Square, only to turn away when they discovered the automatic doors locked for the day.

Orana Mall was also closed, as were the supermarkets and pharmacies.

However, Autobarn Dubbo was open and ready for business, a tradition franchisee owner Neil Sturrock said has been going for the last 10 to 12 years.

Mr Sturrock said it is one of the business' strongest trading days of the year and people have come to expect the annual Boxing Day sale.

"People have a day off and if they don't have a boat they can't go the dam so they're looking for something to do," he said.

"They like to come down, grab a bargain, spend their gift cards. People are doing a lot of travelling so they can get all their travel gear before they go."

Mr Sturrock said there weren't any specific items people were buying in the sale, but travel goods and discounted Christmas gear were both popular.

"Some people are buying early Christmas gifts for next year."

Myer and David Jones in Sydney's CBD were open at 5am yesterday morning for eager shoppers.

Myer was expecting a million customers nationally, the equivalent of 100,000 every hour, to visit its stores during the day, and 17 million to January 26.

The Dubbo branch won't be contributing to the Boxing Day figures, however as it joined the list of retailers that was closed yesterday.

"A lot of the bigger stores aren't allowed to open because Dubbo isn't classified as a tourist destination, but we are, which is good," Mr Sturrock said.

Mr Sturrock said it was great to see the community supporting locally owned businesses.