David Jones weighs closures as it considers shrinking to 12–20 stores

David Jones is reviewing its Australian store network and may close dozens of locations as it seeks to reduce its 38 stores across Australia and New Zealand to between 12 and 20. The review matters because it signals a sharp contraction for the department store chain, which has also confirmed it is examining trading terms with suppliers and brand partners.

Five reportedly loss-making Westfield stores are under review: Carousel in Perth, Parramatta and Hornsby in Sydney, Woden in Canberra, and Southland in Melbourne. Auditor PwC had not signed off the retailer’s accounts, which were due to be lodged by 30 October; retail analyst Barry Urquhart said the business had been in trouble for some time, citing the pandemic’s impact on cash flow and debt. David Jones was bought by Woolworths Holdings for about $2.1 billion in 2014 and its operating business was reportedly sold to Anchorage Capital Partners for $100 million in 2023.