Betts Enters Administration, Closing 20 Stores Across Australia After 134 Years

Betts, one of Australia’s oldest footwear retailers, has entered voluntary administration and will close 20 stores across the country, marking a major retreat from shopping centres after 134 years in business.

The family-owned shoe chain, which began in Perth in 1892, will shrink its physical network from 35 stores to about 15 as administrators attempt to reshape the business around stronger locations and online sales.

The closures affect stores in Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory. For customers, the immediate impact will be clearance sales, changing store availability and uncertainty around local access to a brand that has been part of Australian retail for generations.

A 134-year-old retailer forced to reset

Betts was founded as a small bootmaker’s shop in Perth and has remained family-owned through five generations. At its peak, the company operated close to 220 stores across Australia, including major shopping centre and flagship locations.

That footprint has been reduced steadily in recent years as more shoppers moved online and physical retail conditions became harder. The latest administration process now speeds up that shift, with more than half of the remaining store network to shut.

Lindsay Bainbridge of Pitcher Partners has been appointed voluntary administrator. He said Betts remained a well-known and loved brand, but several stores could no longer be justified under current trading conditions.

“Australians grew up with Betts shoes, they know and love the brand, and we believe it has a strong outlook as a more streamlined operation,” Bainbridge said.

Why stores are closing now

The store closures are being driven by a mix of falling foot traffic, weaker consumer sentiment and rising costs. Shopping centres depend on regular customer visits, but many traditional retailers have struggled as households become more selective about spending.

Footwear retail has an added challenge. Customers often browse in stores but compare prices online, while lower-cost competitors and digital-first brands can operate without the same rent and staffing burden.

Betts’ restructure shows how even well-known heritage brands are being pushed to operate with fewer physical locations. In Australia, voluntary administration is a formal process where an independent administrator reviews a company’s financial position and reports to creditors. The process is explained by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Betts stores closing across Australia

Clearance sale details for customers

Betts will use clearance sales to move stock from the stores marked for closure. More than 120,000 pairs of shoes, bags and accessories will be discounted, with prices expected to start at 50% off from Friday.

The strongest discounts are expected inside the stores that are closing, although customers may still be able to check stock availability online. Some locations, including Whitfords, one Joondalup store and Greensborough, are expected to close imminently.

Other affected stores are expected to trade for four to eight weeks, depending on stock levels and local arrangements.

What it means for Betts staff

Betts has told employees about the administration and store closures. Administrators said support would be provided where possible, including relocating some staff into stores that remain open.

The human impact is significant because store closures do not only affect the company balance sheet. They affect retail workers, shopping centre teams, suppliers and customers who have relied on local stores for fittings, returns and in-person service.

Australia’s retail squeeze is widening

Betts is the latest established Australian retailer to come under severe financial pressure, reflecting the difficult conditions facing many traditional store-based businesses. Higher operating costs, softer consumer spending and reduced shopping centre foot traffic are forcing retailers to rethink large physical store networks.

The challenges are not unique to Betts. In recent weeks, Australian consumers have also seen the collapse or restructuring of other well-known retail names. Craft retailer Lincraft announced it would close all of its physical stores across Australia and New Zealand after more than 80 years in business, while fashion retailer Glue permanently shut its remaining stores and online operations. Earlier, Barbeques Galore also entered administration after a rescue deal failed, highlighting the growing pressure across discretionary retail.

Industry analysts say the sector is undergoing a structural shift rather than a temporary slowdown. Consumers continue to embrace online shopping, while retailers are increasingly concentrating investment on fewer profitable locations instead of maintaining large nationwide store networks.

What happens next for the Betts brand?

Administrators believe Betts can continue as a smaller and more focused business. The brand still has national recognition, a long history and an online platform that can support future sales.

The difficult part will be keeping customer loyalty while reducing the physical store network that helped build the brand. A smaller Betts may have lower costs, but it will also have fewer locations where customers can discover products, try on shoes and interact with the brand in person.

For now, Betts will continue trading through stores that remain open and through its online channel. The administration process will determine whether the company can complete its shift into a leaner retail model without losing the heritage value that made it one of Australia’s best-known shoe names.