Former staff reminisce as historic Australian department store enters voluntary administration

Former employees of David Jones reflected on the store’s legacy as it was placed under voluntary administration on Thursday. Laudie Sneddon, who worked as a graduate pharmacist in the Sydney CBD store in the 1960s, said the department was once "the place to see and be seen" and recalled serving high-profile customers such as former prime minister Gough Whitlam and socialite Sonia McMahon. She described the bustling atmosphere of the era, noting that the dispensary staff were evenly split between men and women and that she kept an autograph book for celebrity signatures.

Sneddon recalled leaving the job eight months pregnant and receiving a written reference from Charles Benyon Lloyd Jones, the last family member to lead the retailer. She described the store’s customer-oriented service model as a hallmark of its identity, adding that it felt "sad" to see the institution close.

Retail historian Matthew Bailey of Macquarie University explained that department stores like David Jones relied heavily on low-paid female labor, with women earning about 54 % of the male award rate and receiving little maternity support. He said this cost structure, combined with rising wage pressures in the 1970s, contributed to financial strain for such retailers. Bailey also highlighted the social networks that developed within stores, including clubs, choirs and charitable groups.

Carly Smith, now 50, recounted starting as a sales assistant at the East Garden branch at age 17. She described the training process and the satisfaction of providing personalized service, noting that the role evolved beyond operating a cash register to creating positive customer experiences. Smith also mentioned meeting her husband while working in the store’s music bar.

The reflections underscore the cultural role David Jones played in Australian society and the broader challenges faced by department stores that depended on inexpensive, skilled female staff.