Iconic Australian department store David Jones has plunged into administration, casting a shadow over the future of the 188-year-old retailer.
Founded in Sydney in 1838, David Jones is recognised as the world's oldest continuously operating department store still trading under its original name.
Now, dozens of its stores across Australia could close, including five locations in Westfield shopping centres, as the retailer reviews its footprint.
It is understood there will be a staff meeting later this morning to detail what happens for its thousands of workers.
Retail expert Barry Urquhart said the crisis marked the end of an era for the Australian chain.
'The inevitability is we will not be seeing David Jones around in the very near future,' Mr Urquhart told the Daily Mail last week.
He identified the Covid-19 pandemic as a major turning point, with widespread closures putting retailers under immense financial pressure.
'With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in February 2020, a lot of communities, towns, businesses closed down and therefore that had a huge impact on cash flows, debt levels,' he said.
But the challenges facing David Jones began long before the pandemic, as a seismic shift in shopping habits steadily transformed Australian retail.
Online shopping had been growing as a share of total retail sales since the early 2000s. During the pandemic, that shift accelerated, with online purchases surging to almost 20 per cent of total sales.
Iconic Australian department store David Jones has plunged into administration
David Jones' financial position has come under renewed scrutiny after the retailer recorded a $95.5million pre-tax loss for the year to June 29, 2026, as sales fell by 8.7 per cent. Pictured, Australian model Miranda Kerr with former Group General Manager Sacha Laing in 2011
For David Jones, known for its in-store shopping experience, the shift to online shopping was a major blow.
It was a stark departure from the glamour of its golden years in the early to mid-2000s, when its brand ambassadors included Lauren Hutton, Miranda Kerr, Megan Gale and Jessica Gomes.
Its catwalk shows were similarly star-studded, featuring some of modelling's biggest names, from Linda Evangelista to Jesinta Franklin and Gigi Hadid.
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