<p>Future of department store in jeopardy after administrators appointed on Thursday morning</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Australia’s premier upmarket department store David Jones has collapsed into voluntary administration, putting thousands of jobs at risk and leaving the future of the 188-year-old retailer hanging in the balance.</p><p>The upheaval follows years of steep losses and underperforming stores that left the heritage retailer falling behind on rent, culminating in a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/nov/04/david-jones-expected-to-fall-into-administration-rent">breakdown of negotiations </a>with its primary landlord, Westfield owner Scentre Group.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/nov/05/david-jones-stores-closing-down-collapse-administration">Continue reading...</a>