David Jones, Australia's oldest department store, folds after 188 years

David Jones, the country’s oldest department‑store chain, has entered voluntary administration, putting thousands of jobs at risk. The decision follows years of financial strain as shoppers increasingly favour online platforms. Voluntary administrators McGrathNicol said the retailer’s physical and online outlets will continue operating while receivers FTI Consulting review the business. Hours before the board approved the move, Scentre – owner of Westfield – said the retailer had failed to pay October rent, breaching its tenancy agreement.

CEO Erica Berthold said, "David Jones is an iconic company and so many Australians have stories and memories of visiting DJ's stores," adding the brand has a "well-developed plan" to "reset the business for the future". She thanked "customers, our team members and our partners for their continued support of David Jones through this period". Christopher Hill of FTI Consulting explained, "We understand the current retail trading environment, rising costs, a significant and outdated retail footprint, and supply chain challenges have led to this point," and noted that appointing administrators provides "breathing space" for restructuring.

Marketing lecturer Jana Bowden of Macquarie University said the collapse signalled a "death knell" for the department‑store format, describing it as "the Aussie version of Harrods" and recalling how families would travel to see the festive Christmas windows. She added that city stores retain an upscale air, while suburban sites have become mundane and lack excitement. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that during Queen Elizabeth II's first visit to Sydney in 1954, the then‑27‑year‑old monarch attended a banquet dinner on the seventh floor of the Elizabeth St store.