David Jones’ receivers FTI Consulting announced on Wednesday it would close 19 stores across five states, the ACT and New Zealand.
David Jones locations in Sydney’s Parramatta, the Sunshine Coast’s Sunshine Plaza and Adelaide’s Marion are among 19 outlets to be shuttered by the end of the year, receivers announced on Wednesday.
Receivers FTI Consulting said it had informed David Jones staff on Wednesday, less than a week after the troubled retailer fell into both receivership and voluntary administration, describing the “difficult decision” as being necessary for David Jones to “continue as a viable business”.
The firm did not set a date for the closures – which are spread across five states, the ACT and New Zealand – but said it expected the 19 stores would cease operations by the end of the year. The stores to close are:
- Carousel, WA
- Garden City, WA
- Glen Waverley, VIC
- Green Hills, NSW
- Hay Street Mall, WA
- Highpoint, VIC
- Hornsby, NSW
- Macarthur Square, NSW
- Macquarie Centre, NSW
- Malvern Central, VIC
- Marion, SA
- Newmarket, NZ
- Parramatta, NSW
- Robina Town Centre, QLD
- Sunshine Plaza, QLD
- Warringah Mall, NSW
- West Lakes, SA
- Woden, ACT
- Wollongong Central, NSW
David Jones suffered $95.5 million in pre-tax losses for the year to June 29, 2025, according to accounts filed with ASIC in April, rising from $74.1 million the year prior. The company’s board placed the retailer into administration last Thursday, appointing McGrathNicol.
On the same day its secured lender, Hilco Capital, separately pushed it into receivership, tapping FTI Consulting to manage the company on its behalf.
On Tuesday night a creditors’ report revealed that David Jones’ private equity owners, Anchorage Capital, met with lender Hilco and McGrathNicol in July to discuss the retailer’s ailing financial position and a potential restructure. Anchorage contacted McGrathNicol on October 22 to discuss a possible voluntary administration, the report said.
FTI Consulting said on Wednesday the store closures were part of a plan “being worked on prior” to its appointment last week.
Anchorage bought David Jones for around $100 million in 2023. South African conglomerate Woolworths Holdings had bought the company for $2.1 billion in 2014.
As FTI Consulting works to restructure the business, McGrathNicol is looking to sell it. Prospective buyers have until Friday afternoon to express interest, the firm said over the weekend.
“There has been an extraordinary level of inbound interest from a range of highly credible industry players and financial investors,” McGrathNicol partner Matthew Hutton said. “We are actively engaging with domestic and international parties that have experience in both turning around and operating highly successful retail department stores.”
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