David Jones to relocate headquarters to Melbourne

DAVID Jones will move its corporate headquarters to Melbourne, creating more than 800 jobs and cementing the city’s status as the fashion capital of Australia.

Rita Metzer, 31, loves night shopping at David Jones. Picture: Mark Stewart

DAVID Jones will move its corporate headquarters to Melbourne, creating more than 800 jobs and cementing the city’s status as the fashion capital of Australia.

The upmarket department store chain will relocate from Sydney to a new building in Richmond, which will also be home to fashion group Country Road. Both are owned by South African retail conglomerate Woolworths.

The move is a major corporate coup for Melbourne and locks in its status as the fashion capital of Australia, with both David Jones and Myer operating out of the state.

Woolworths, which shelled out $2.1 billion for David Jones two years ago and has no ­connection with the Aussie grocery giant, plans to spend $240 million in Victoria over the next five years, funding the move and rolling out new David Jones stores.

The new Swan St headquarters will house 600 David Jones workers and 680 Country Road workers who now work in Church St.

WHY THEY’RE MOVING: ‘Melbourne the perfect fit’

The relocation will bring 820 extra jobs to Victoria.

David Jones also expects to hire 220 new workers in corporate functions as it looks to increase its store count in Australia and New Zealand and expand its gourmet food offering. Sydney-based David Jones workers have been offered their jobs in Melbourne and relocation allowances.

The combined moves are expected to be bedded down by the end of 2018.

Woolworths chief executive Ian Moir said the move to Melbourne was a “no-brainer” given the company’s existing large presence here.

“Melbourne is the fashion capital of Australia, it is the retail hub of Australia, there is more of a talent pool here, the costs are cheaper and the reality is we already have a big business here,” he told the ­Herald Sun.

The Victorian Government offered David Jones incentives to make the move. Both declined to reveal their value.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the move was testament to Victoria’s position as the ­nation’s fashion capital and one of the best places in the world to do business.

“We are fighting for every single job and bringing in major investments like this one, which will secure 1500 jobs for Victoria and help keep our economy strong,” he said.

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