British boy band One Direction are a big hit Down Under. Tickets for 16 of the 20 shows scheduled for the group's 2013 Australian tour sold out within hours of becoming available, reports Sky News.

The group arrived in Australia on April 10 of this year and performed to screaming fans in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane starting on April 13.

On April 18, on the eve of their departure from Australia, One Direction announced their return next year.

One Direction is scheduled for concerts in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth from September 11 to October 13, 2013.

"My favourite places were New York and Sydney - I'd never been to Australia or New Zealand before, so that was sick," bandmember Styles told BBC Radio.

As of this writing, limited tickets are still available for Melbourne and Sydney shows in October 2012. Perth shows go on sale in late May or early June.