Once a retail giant with a long, proud history, Rivers will soon no longer exist. What happened?

Its shirts were once worn by Aussie sporting legends and boots by rock god Mick Jagger but Rivers will shut up shop for good in April, ending a long retail history. Where did it fall apart?

Aussie retail "icon" Rivers is closing down, for good. Picture: Alison Wynd

By mid-April this year, Aussie “retail icon” Rivers will be no more.

The chain which once used sporting greats like Ron Barassi, David Hookes, Peter Brock and Max Walker to spruik its shirts and shoes — and sold boots favoured by rock god Mick Jagger — will close its 136 remaining stores for good, and shed about 650 jobs.

In its heyday, Rivers shod and clothed Australians from all walks of life, appealing to the masses with its affordable sturdy shoes, and smart but robust collared, cotton shirts.

Proudly donned by everyday Aussies at backyard barbies, in bars and workplaces, Rivers shoes and shirts weren’t seen as cheap.

They were just fair dinkum, hard-wearing clobber, that lasted for years if cared for well.

When a 1989 Tattler column revealed that Rivers — rather than more expensive R.M Williams — were the boots of choice for Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger when he toured Down Under, it was a golden moment for the retail brand that had officially launched in Ballarat just a decade earlier, but which really began in rural, north central Victoria more than a century before that.

Aussie sporting legends spruiked Rivers shoes and clothes back in its heyday. Picture: Supplied

Collared shirts, in solid hues or check, were popular. Picture: Supplied

Rock legend Mick Jagger reportedly favoured Rivers shoes when touring Down Under.

The Tattler piece that revealed rock royalty, Mick Jagger, loved Rivers. Picture: Supplied

Rivers’ website still shouts its proud history, dating back to 1863 when Joe Paddle and his sons started manufacturing shoes from their Charlton property.

It wasn’t until 1960 that the Paddle brothers moved their successful venture to Ballarat, and not until 1979 that the Rivers brand was officially formed, in partnership with Diana Ferrari in Sebastopol.

By 1983 Rivers knew it was hitting a sweet spot with Aussies seeking affordable, quality shoes and clothes, and ambitiously opened retail stores in Sydney’s George and Pitt streets.

It cemented a place in the nation’s fashion history in 1991, when it introduced the boat shoe to Australian women.

The Paddle brothers moved their operation to Ballarat in 1960. Picture: Supplied

But Joe Paddle started manufacturing shoes in rural Charlton back in 1863. Picture: Supplied

Rivers introduced the ‘boat shoe’ to Australian women in 1991. Picture: Supplied

Rivers made shoes that it claimed others were trying to copy. Picture: Supplied

By 1993 — when Barassi, Hookes, Brock and Walker proudly posed up in Rivers attire — the chain boasted 50 stores nationally.

Just a few years later, in 1999, Rivers had 63 shops, and launched an online retail store — the first of its kind in Australia.

By 2000, it had 100 stores across the country, and by 2021 had branched out into homewares, and more — a transition that had started in 2019.

Rivers stores were not just about clothing and shoes anymore, they came to sell bedding, camping equipment, clocks, candles and cushions, vacuum cleaners, humidifiers, kitchen utensils, travel luggage — you name it, Rivers flogged it.

In 2023 it had “mega stores” in a number of regional locations also offering goods from its “sister brands”, which some customers loved but others loathed — because Rivers just wasn’t Rivers anymore.

A Rivers ‘mega store’ in Townsville, which is closing down. Picture: Supplied.

And some stalwart stores were becoming dilapidated.

The Geelong Rivers outlet in Malop St was in desperate need of modernisation when news broke that the retailer would close on January 23 this year, with customers reporting buckets were sometimes placed through the building to capture water from a leaking roof.

Some ruminate that the beginning of the end for the Rivers Australians knew and loved started in 2013, when it was purchased by Speciality Fashion Group for the knockdown price of $3.9m.

Speciality also owned the Autograph, Katies, Crossroads and Millers brands.

Others suggest it was later, in 2018, when it was acquired by Noni B Holdings, now Mosaic Brands.

Mosaic collapsed with debts of almost $250m late last year.

When receivers failed to find a buyer for Rivers, it followed its stablemate, Katies, to Australia’s growing retail graveyard.

The Rivers store in Malop St Geelong reportedly leaked. Picture: Alison Wynd

“Despite the best efforts of the Mosaic Brands Group team, the receivers (KPMG) and voluntary administrators (FTI Consulting), a sale of the Rivers business has not been achieved.

“As a consequence, all remaining Rivers stores will close by mid-April 2025,” it was announced last week.

Receiver and KPMG turnaround and restructuring partner, David Hardy said “the difficult decision to wind down this iconic Australian brand” had been made.

“The receivers would like to thank the Mosaic and Rivers employees who have all worked tirelessly during this difficult period, as well as Rivers’ loyal customer base who have continued to support the brands,” he said.

Last week the receivers said they were continuing to work on a transaction for the remaining brands in the Mosaic portfolio, Millers and Noni B.

But on Wednesday of this week it was revealed more than 900 retail workers would lose their jobs following a decision to also wind both those brands up, after buyers could not be secured for either.

More than 240 Noni B and Millers stores in Australia, and 11 in New Zealand, will close by mid-April as a result, and another 933 retail jobs will be lost.

Australian Retailers Association chief industry affairs officer Fleur Brown said Rivers was “an iconic Australian brand” that had fallen victim to the headwinds facing the retail sector.

“Our thoughts are with the Rivers team at this difficult time,” Ms Brown told the Herald Sun on Wednesday.

Rivers stores will close across the country, ending a long history. Picture: Supplied

Rivers offered “big brands at low prices”. Picture: Supplied

“It’s been a very challenging period for the retail sector and Australian retailers continue to face many ongoing pressures including slowed consumer spending to the rising costs of doing business.

“The loss of such an iconic Australian brand highlights the challenges many retail businesses are contending with, which is why the ARA is strongly advocating for greater government awareness and support.”

Rivers had many advertisements which Aussies fondly remember.

One particularly memorable ad, referencing the availability (or lack thereof) of certain advertised items, stated simply: “Rivers — your outlet may have some, may have none.”

As stores now desperately sell up their stock at bargain basement prices, to close their doors forever, the tagline has a sad and prophetic ring.

Originally published as Once a retail giant with a long, proud history, Rivers will soon no longer exist. What happened?