One of Australia's well-known outdoor retailers is heading towards the end of the road. The Barbeques Galore group is set to wind up its operations. The move comes after the company went into receivership earlier this year. Since then, efforts to keep the business going have not succeeded.
A central reason behind the wind-up was the failure to secure a new owner. The group went into receivership earlier in the year and was unable to find a buyer. Without a buyer to take over, the path towards closing the business became clearer. That outcome has now been confirmed for the retailer.
The scale of the closures is significant across the company's network. The Barbeques Galore group controls 62 stores, all of which will close. In addition, there are 27 franchise stores that are still being managed. Those franchise stores are also expected to close as part of the wind-up.
The collapse will have a heavy impact on the people who work for the company. Barbeques Galore has approximately 500 employees. All of those workers are expected to lose their jobs as the business shuts down. The loss of these roles is among the most immediate consequences of the wind-up.
The process is also moving into a new and more final stage. The administrators handling the company are set to take on a different role. From June 16, the administrators will become liquidators of the group. That shift marks a formal step towards bringing the company's affairs to a close.
The retailer carries a long history in the Australian market. The company was founded by Max Mason in Sydney. Over the decades, it grew into a familiar name for shoppers across the country. Its roots place it firmly among the long-standing retailers in the sector.
Beyond the numbers, the brand has held a particular place in Australian life. The outdoor retailer has been synonymous with the Aussie barbecue since the 1970s. For many years, it was closely tied to a popular part of the country's culture. Its winding up therefore marks the end of an era for a recognisable retail name.