Last verified & updated: November 11, 2026, at 4:15 p.m. AEDT (Sydney, UTC+11:00) / 05:15 UTC.
Australia's oldest department store chain, David Jones, is slashing its physical footprint by half after collapsing into voluntary administration and receivership. Receivers from FTI Consulting, appointed by secured lender Hilco Capital alongside voluntary administrators from McGrathNicol, announced an urgent restructuring plan that earmarks 19 underperforming stores for closure across Australia and New Zealand before the end of December 2026.
The sweeping closures impact 18 shopping centre and regional locations in Australia and one in New Zealand, placing thousands of retail positions in jeopardy across the retailer's 6,000-strong workforce. Flagship central business district (CBD) sites—including Sydney's Elizabeth Street and Melbourne's Bourke Street Mall—remain open while administrators pursue recapitalisation or an urgent buyer for the streamlined operation.
Receivers have initiated formal consultations with employees across 19 affected branches. While these stores continue trading in the immediate term to clear inventory and conduct operations, all 19 are scheduled to cease trading by late 2026:
Note: The closure of Marion and West Lakes leaves Adelaide's Rundle Mall as the sole remaining David Jones department store in South Australia.
Because trading schedules, clearance initiatives, and specific final trading dates will vary on a store-by-store basis, Australian shoppers should take practical steps to verify their local branch:
When a major retailer enters voluntary administration, customer policies shift rapidly to protect operational cash flow:
David Jones has immediately suspended sales of brand-new gift cards. Existing unexpired gift cards remain provisionally honoured across active registers for the time being. However, under Australian insolvency law, gift card holders are technically classified as unsecured creditors. Consumer advocacy bodies strongly urge customers to redeem outstanding gift card balances immediately on in-store merchandise or online purchases before final closure dates are enacted.
Under interim administration directives, David Jones has narrowed its traditional 30-day change-of-mind policy to a stricter 14-day exchange-only policy for recent transactions. Cash and card refunds for simple change-of-mind are restricted. However, statutory consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) remain legally binding: if an item is faulty, unsafe, or fails to perform as advertised, the business is legally obligated to provide a remedy.
The David Jones digital storefront continues to accept orders, with fulfillment dispatched via central distribution hubs and unaffected hub stores. If your preferred Click & Collect location is among the closing stores, administrators recommend selecting home delivery or switching pick-up preferences to an ongoing flagship store.
The 188-year-old retailer has faced compounding structural pressures. After consecutive years of declining consumer discretionary spending, elevated inflation, and shifting demographics toward online luxury retail, David Jones recorded pre-tax losses exceeding $95 million in recent reporting periods. High commercial rents and prolonged, unsuccessful lease renegotiations with major shopping centre operators culminated in Hilco Capital and directors appointing insolvency professionals to salvage the core business.
Receivers state that closing unprofitable satellite and regional branches will allow the brand to focus investment and inventory into its high-volume flagship city centres and modern digital channel.
While an exact universal final date has not been set for every individual location, receivers have confirmed that all 19 identified stores will cease operations before the end of December 2026, following formal employee consultations and inventory stocktakes.
Yes, existing valid gift cards are currently accepted at checkout, but new gift card purchases have been halted. Because insolvency terms can alter quickly or terminate if liquidation occurs, you should spend any remaining gift card value as soon as possible.
Approximately 19 locations will remain open, anchored by landmark CBD flagship stores including Elizabeth Street (Sydney), Bourke Street Mall (Melbourne), QueensPlaza (Brisbane), Rundle Mall (Adelaide), and key high-performing metropolitan properties.
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