What sparked three-hour queue in Sydney

Hundreds of fashion lovers are facing a wait of up to three hours to take advantage of a beloved Aussie fashion label’s warehouse sale.

The queue stretched just over 100m from the front stairs of Paddington Town Hall and down Sydney’s iconic Oxford St on Thursday morning.

The town hall was filled with women hunting for a bargain from the Australian-born brand Bec and Bridge.

“We had no idea how long the line was before we got here,” 18-year-old Laura told the NCA NewsWire.

“Our friends got here at 7.15am and they only left about 10 minutes ago,” Georgia, 19 said at around 11am.

“They were only in line for about half an hour, but they’ve been inside for ages.”

Popular queue tracking Instagram account Bondi Lines reported around 9.30am that people joining the queue were being told the wait could be up to three hours.

Georgia’s friends reported it was already a chaotic scene upstairs inside the venue, where rows of rails are packed tight with clothing and discarded items are strewn on the floor.

“Apparently it’s a mess inside and they were like, really sweaty,” Dana, 19 said.

“It’s just hectic.”

They had also been told there are more long waits inside for changing rooms and even to purchase items at the register.

“Apparently, you only have five minutes in the changing room and then you have to get out,” Dana said.

“My friend said she lost her top because she had to get changed so quickly.”

Isabelle, 22, is weeks away from graduating from acting school and is hoping she’ll find the right dress among the sale racks.

She said her and her mother had moved about 50 metres in the queue over the course of an hour.

“I don’t think the front of the line is too far from here,” she said, standing on the front steps.

Nineteen-year-old Bianca works in hospitality and was also about one hour down in the queue.

“It’s getting really long,” she said.

“They are letting people in really slowly.”

When asked what brought her to the mega sale on a weekday, she said she “just needed more clothes”.

“I’m supposed to be doing uni right now, but priorities,” she said.

Further down the queue, plenty of revellers where shocked to hear the news that it could be as long as three hours before they are able to get inside.

“Oh my goodness,” Rita, 31 said.

Some decided it was not worth it and turned around upon hearing the news.

“We are probably going to change plans and come early in the morning tomorrow,” Fey, 26 said.