FitzGerald's

FitzGerald's was a historic Australian department-store retailer headquartered in Hobart, Tasmania. The business began in March 1886, when George Parker FitzGerald established a wholesale operation at 79 Collins Street in Hobart. It developed into Tasmania's largest department-store chain and remained majority family-owned for much of its existence before being acquired by Charles Davis Limited in 1981. The company's original Hobart premises were destroyed by fire in July 1911. FitzGerald's rebuilt the store in less than a year, reopening on 21 March 1912. The rebuilt flagship became a prominent Hobart retail site with frontages on Collins Street, Murray Street and Elizabeth Street. From this base, the chain expanded across Tasmania, operating substantial stores in Launceston and Burnie as well as suburban locations at Eastlands and Moonah. It also operated a smaller store in New Norfolk, occupying a general-store building dating from 1914. FitzGerald's growth included expansion beyond its traditional Tasmanian base. Between 1993 and 1995, it briefly operated a store at Forest Hill in suburban Melbourne; that location was associated with the Harris Scarfe business before later changing banners. In 1994, after the collapse of the Venture department-store chain, FitzGerald's acquired and rebadged Venture stores in Devonport and Ulverstone. By May 1995, the chain operated eight stores. The business nevertheless faced sustained financial pressure. Annual trading losses exceeded $2 million by 1995. Charles Davis responded by merging FitzGerald's with its Harris Scarfe department-store chain. During 1995, the FitzGerald's stores were placed under Harris Scarfe management and rebadged under the Harris Scarfe name, ending FitzGerald's as a standalone retail banner. The former FitzGerald's locations continued to trade under Harris Scarfe for varying periods, although several subsequently closed or were substantially altered. The New Norfolk store closed in 2000, Eastlands closed in 2001, and Burnie closed in 2008. The Launceston premises were reduced after part of the neighboring Makinlay's building was sold. The Hobart store temporarily closed for redevelopment in 2017, reopened in 2018, and later closed in 2020 amid financial difficulties affecting the Harris Scarfe business. FitzGerald's is therefore best understood as a defunct regional department-store brand whose principal stores were absorbed into a successor retail banner.

FitzGerald's originated in March 1886 when George Parker FitzGerald opened a wholesale business at 79 Collins Street in Hobart. The enterprise gradually became a department-store operation and grew into the dominant Tasmanian department-store retailer. Its central Hobart premises occupied a strategically prominent block with frontages on Collins Street, Murray Street and Elizabeth Street, giving the business a substantial flagship presence in the state's capital. A major early interruption came in July 1911, when the original store was completely destroyed by fire. FitzGerald's rebuilt the premises rapidly, completing the replacement store within eight months. The new building opened on 21 March 1912 and became the principal physical symbol of the business. The company remained majority family-owned until 1981, when Charles Davis Limited acquired it. During the later twentieth century, FitzGerald's operated a network extending well beyond Hobart. Its major Tasmanian stores included locations in Launceston and Burnie, while suburban Hobart outlets operated at Eastlands and Moonah. A smaller New Norfolk branch occupied a general-store building constructed in 1914. The chain also made a limited move into Victoria, operating a Forest Hill store in suburban Melbourne between 1993 and 1995. That site had links to the Harris Scarfe retail operation and subsequently changed retail banners more than once. FitzGerald's expanded again in the mid-1990s when the Venture department-store chain collapsed. It acquired Venture stores in Devonport and Ulverstone and converted them to the FitzGerald's name. By May 1995, the business operated eight stores. The expansion, however, occurred while the chain was under financial strain. Its annual trading losses were reported as exceeding $2 million, making continued operation under the FitzGerald's name unsustainable. In 1995, Charles Davis combined FitzGerald's with its Harris Scarfe department-store chain. The FitzGerald's outlets were placed under Harris Scarfe management and progressively rebadged, bringing the independent brand to an end. The successor-banner stores did not all survive. The New Norfolk branch closed in 2000, followed by Eastlands in 2001 and Burnie in 2008. The Launceston operation was substantially reduced after the sale of the Makinlay's building, a neighboring former department-store property. The Hobart location closed temporarily for a major redevelopment in 2017 and reopened in 2018, but it closed again in 2020 amid financial problems associated with Harris Scarfe. FitzGerald's consequently remains a historically important Tasmanian retail name, but no longer operates as an independent brand.

• 1995

  Brand merged into Harris Scarfe

  [1]FitzGerald'sen.wikipedia.org

  The chain was merged with Harris Scarfe after reported annual trading losses above $2 million, and its stores were rebranded.

• 1994

  Venture stores acquired

  [1]FitzGerald'sen.wikipedia.org

  FitzGerald's acquired and rebadged former Venture stores in Devonport and Ulverstone.

• 1981

  Acquisition by Charles Davis

  [1]FitzGerald'sen.wikipedia.org

  Charles Davis Limited acquired FitzGerald's from its majority family ownership.

• 1912

  Rebuilt Hobart flagship opens

  [1]FitzGerald'sen.wikipedia.org

  A replacement store opened on 21 March 1912 after construction lasting less than a year.

• 1911

  Original Hobart store destroyed by fire

  [1]FitzGerald'sen.wikipedia.org

  The company's original store was completely destroyed by fire in July 1911.

• 1886

  Wholesale business established in Hobart

  [1]FitzGerald'sen.wikipedia.org

  George Parker FitzGerald founded the business at 79 Collins Street, Hobart, in March 1886.

A large regional department-store chain serving Tasmanian consumers through a prominent Hobart flagship and stores in major Tasmanian cities and suburbs.

• Department stores · 1886

  FitzGerald's department stores

  FitzGerald's operated as a full-line regional department-store business rather than as a narrowly specialized product brand. Its network included a large Hobart flagship, stores in Launceston and Burnie, suburban Hobart branches at Eastlands and Moonah, and a smaller New Norfolk location. The available reference material identifies the business as a department-store chain but does not provide a detailed merchandise breakdown.

• 1995

  Merge and rebrand as Harris ScarfeStrategy

  Background

  FitzGerald's was reporting annual trading losses exceeding $2 million.

  Action taken

  Charles Davis merged the chain with Harris Scarfe, placed the stores under Harris Scarfe management, and replaced the FitzGerald's name.

  Aftermath

  FitzGerald's ceased to operate as a standalone banner, while many former locations continued trading under Harris Scarfe for different periods.

  Annual trading losses. Exceeding AUD 2 million (1995)

  Source

• 1994

  Acquire former Venture storesM&A

  Background

  The Venture department-store chain collapsed, creating an opportunity to obtain additional Tasmanian locations.

  Action taken

  FitzGerald's acquired and rebadged the former Venture stores in Devonport and Ulverstone.

  Aftermath

  The chain operated eight stores by May 1995, although the expansion was followed by significant trading losses.

  Source

• 1981

  Acquire FitzGerald'sM&A

  Background

  FitzGerald's had operated as a majority family-owned Tasmanian department-store business.

  Action taken

  Charles Davis Limited acquired the retailer.

  Aftermath

  FitzGerald's subsequently became part of the Charles Davis retail portfolio, alongside Harris Scarfe.

  Source

1. 1FitzGerald'sen.wikipedia.org