Adelaide Target joins long list of store closures

The Target brand is fading fast in Australia and it’s been revealed another of its stores is closing for good, being converted into a Woolies.

Target is shutting its doors at another one of its sites, adding to the long list of closures announced earlier in the year.

The store in Adelaide’s western suburb Fulham Gardens will shut next month, according to reports from The Advertiser, making way for a Woolworths, Dan Murphy’s and a variety store.

The Tapleys Hill Rd retail strip will undergo a “major redevelopment”, property manager Theo Kaldis told the local publication.

The development comes after Target’s parent company, Wesfarmers, announced in May that up to 167 of the discount department stores could disappear.

RELATED: Target closes 167 stores in massive restructure

Under the drastic plan, up to 75 Target stores will be closed down while 92 will be converted into Kmart outlets, meaning around half of Target’s 284-odd Australian stores could be affected.

The shock announcement regarding the struggling discount department store chain was made by Wesfarmers, which owns both Target and Kmart

It also revealed $780 million of writedowns on its Kmart Group and industrial and safety branch, and a number of plans designed to “accelerate the growth of Kmart” and “address the unsustainable financial performance of Target”.

Dozens of Target stores will close within 12 months. Picture: Cameron Bates

They include converting “suitable” Target and Target Country stores to Kmart stores, the closure of between 10 to 25 large format Target stores, the closure of the remaining 50 small format Target Country stores, and a “significant restructuring of the Target store support office”.

Wesfarmers managing director Rob Scott said the changes would “enhance the overall position of the Kmart Group, while also improving the commercial viability of Target”.

“For some time now, the retail sector has seen significant structural change and disruption, and we expect this trend to continue.

“With the exception of Target, Wesfarmers’ retail businesses are well-positioned to respond to the changes in consumer behaviour and competition associated with this disruption,” Mr Scott said.

WHICH STORES ARE CLOSING?

In May, Target confirmed 53 store closures across all states and territories except the Northern Territory.

They include:

NSW:

• Armidale, early-mid 2021

• Campbelltown, July 2020

• Cooma, early-mid 2021

• Cootamundra, early-mid 2021

• Corowa, early-mid 2021

• Deniliquin, early-mid 2021

• Forbes, early-mid 2021

• Leeton, early 2021

• Merimbula, early-mid 2021

• Morisset, early-mid 2021

• Narrabri, early-mid 2021

• Nowra, early-mid 2021

• Salamander Bay, early-mid 2021

• Scone, early-mid 2021

• Wagga Wagga, early-mid 2021

• Winmalee, early-mid 2021

• Murwillumbah, early 2021

• Casino Retail Centre, early-mid 2021

• Goonellabah, early 2021

QLD:

• Atherton, early 2021

• Beaudesert, early-mid 2021

• Biloela, early 2021

• Clifton Beach, early-mid 2021

• Emerald, early-mid 2021

• Kippa Ring, early 2021

• Longreach, early-mid 2021

• Moranbah, early-mid 2021

• Murgon, early-mid 2021

VICTORIA:

• Bacchus Marsh, early-mid 2021

• Bairnsdale, early-mid 2021

• Benalla, mid 2021

• Colac, early-mid 2021

• Kerang, early-mid 2021

• Langwarrin, early-mid 2021

• Maryborough, early-mid 2021

• Myrtleford, early-mid 2021

• Traralgon, early-mid 2021

• Warragul, early-mid 2021

WA:

• Busselton, early 2021

• Karratha, early-mid 2021

• Kununurra, early-mid 2021

• Manjimup, early-mid 2021

• Margaret River, early-mid 2021

• Meadow Springs, August 2020

• Merredin, early-mid 2021

• Narrogin, early-mid 2021

SA

• Clare, early-mid 2021

• Millicent, early 2021

• Naracoorte, early-mid 2021

• Pasadena, June 2020

• Port Lincoln, early 2021

TASMANIA:

• Devonport, early-mid 2021

ACT:

• Weston Creek, early-mid 2021

WHICH STORES WILL BECOME KMARTS?

Again, most states and territories are affected except the ACT and Tasmania.

VICTORIA:

• Ararat, early-mid 2021

• Castlemaine, September 2020

• Cobram, July 2020

• Echuca, July 2020

• Hamilton, early 2021

• Kyabram, September 2020

• Lakes Entrance, early 2021

• Leongatha, early 2021

• Mansfield, early 2021

• Portland, early 2021

• Seymour, early 2021

• Woodend, September 2020

• Yarrawonga, early 2021

QLD:

• Ayr, early-mid 2021

• Beerwah, early-mid 2021

• Bowen, early 2021

• Charters Towers, early 2021

• Chinchilla, early 2021

• Dalby, early 2021

• Gatton, early 2021

• Goondiwindi, early 2021

• Gympie, early 2021

• Ingham, early 2021

• Mareeba, early 2021

• Noosa Junction, early 2021

• Port Douglas, early 2021

• Roma, early 2021

• Sarina, early 2021

• Stanthorpe, early 2021

• Warwick, early 2021

• Yeppoon, early 2021

NSW:

• Bega, early-mid 2021

• Bowral, early 2021

• Gunnedah, early 2021

• Katoomba, early 2021

• Moree, early 2021

• Mudgee, early 2021

• Picton, early 2021

• Tumut, early 2021

• Ulladulla, early 2021

• Ocean Shores Village Ctr, early 2021

• Windsor Town S/C, early 2021

• Yass, early 2021

• Yamba, early 2021

SA:

• Berri, early 2021

• Murray Bridge, early 2021

• Port Augusta, early 2021

• Victor Harbor, early 2021

WA:

• Esperance, early 2021

• Geraldton, early-mid 2021

• Northam, early 2021

• Pinjarra, early 2021

NT:

• Katherine, early 2021