Do we like them?

Do we like David Jones?

Upmarket Australian department store chain founded in Sydney in 1838. It has 38 stores in Australia and New Zealand.

Our score: 3 out of 10. We wouldn't back it now. It went into voluntary administration on 5 Nov 2026, and its future depends on a sale or restructure. The brand is loved, but the business model is struggling.

David Jones opened its first store on Sydney's George Street in 1838 and calls itself the world's oldest continuously operating department store still trading under its original name. It predates Harrods by more than a decade, and Australians have long gone there for formal wear and school and graduation outfits.

South Africa's Woolworths Holdings bought it in 2014 for about A$2.1 billion. After almost a decade of frustrating results it sold to private equity firm Anchorage Capital Partners for roughly A$100 million. The Conversation said that price showed David Jones wasn't a healthy business.

In June 2026 Erica Berchtold became its first female CEO, taking over from Scott Fyfe. She had been chief commercial officer since May 2025 and was previously CEO of The Iconic and Mosaic Brands. Her job was to run a five-year plan called INSPIRE30.

On 5 November 2026 the store chain went into voluntary administration, with McGrathNicol as administrators and FTI Consulting as receivers. Reuters said rising costs, weak sales and supply chain pressures weighed on it. ABC News, citing Scentre's CEO, reported that Scentre (Westfield) offered a lifeline that Anchorage rejected. Stores keep trading for now.

Our score is 3. It's a much-loved brand with no major regulator scandals that we found, but the owner and the business have failed to make it work. Staff, suppliers and landlords are left carrying the risk, and we wouldn't put money in until we see who buys it.