Updated November 5, 2026 — 10:28am , first published 9:03am

David Jones has been handed over to administrators and receivers for the first time in its 188 years of trading which is expected to trigger store closures and mass layoffs in the lead up to Christmas.

Staff were informed this morning that its board voted to appoint voluntary administrators from McGrathNicol. The failed retailer’s lenders then appointed FTI Consulting as receivers to the group, and they will run the business until it is restructured and put up for sale.

Administrators have been appointed after David Jones’ landlords failed to reach an agreement with its landlords.…