The D.I.C. (originally the Drapery and General Importing Company of New Zealand Ltd) was a New Zealand department store chain, founded in Dunedin by Bendix Hallenstein in 1884.[1][2]
It was bought out by one of its chief rivals, Arthur Barnett, in the 1980s.[3] The site of the company's former headquarters and flagship store is now occupied by the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, although the façade of the Princes Street entrance still remains in largely original condition.
Historyedit
Hallenstein opened the first Drapery and General Importing Company store in 1884 in Dunedin Central.[4]
In 1977 D.I.C with the Canterbury Farmers Co-operative they took over the Beaths Department Store brand with D.I.C taking over the Cashel Street store and the Farmers Co-op took over the New Brighton store and the Ashburton store (which was closed as part of the takeover).[5]
In 1978 Beaths and D.I.C merged and the Christchurch store was rebranded to D.I.C-Beaths.[6] In 1979 D.I.C left their original building in Christchurch and moved into the Beaths building.[7]
The chain had three stores in 1891, six stores by 1929, nine stores by 1976, and 16 stores by its takeover in 1988.[4]
Prior to its takeover by Arthur Barnett, the D.I.C had stores in the following locations. Unless stated, they were rebranded as Arthur Barnett, with D.I.C. eventually closing in 1991:
Invercargill (rebranded Arthur Barnett in 1989) Closed in 1990 with Farmers relocating to site in 1991. Location most recently occupied by Art Fun Wear and was demolished in 2020 as part of a redevelopment of the entire city block.[8]
Christchurch, Cashel Street (opened in 1885, burned down in 1908 and rebuilt, merged with Beath's department store in 1978 and shifted into their premises, rebranding as Arthur Barnett/D.I.C, then again as Arthur Barnett, and closed in 2005)[9]
Wellington, Lambton Quay. Built 1928 on the site of the former D.I.C store, closed early 1980s. Building refurbished as the Harbour City Centre which opened March 1985. the Harbour City Centre is a registered Category 2 heritage landmark. The six-storey steel and concrete frame building consists of 2 storeys of retail and 4 storeys of offices.
Palmerston North - Former Milne & Choyce store, now the Palmerston North City Library. Rebranded as Arthur Barnett in 1989 and that store closed in 1992.[10]
Whanganui
Hamilton - converted to the Central Library in Garden Place, which opened on 20 March 1993[11]
Napier
Hastings (D.I.C Westermans)
Lower Hutt, High St.
Rotorua
Pakuranga
Takapuna
Central Auckland (formerly George Court & Sons)
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to D.I.C..
^"TheDrapery and General Importing Company of New Zealand Ltd". Otago Witness. 30 October 1890. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
^Brookes, Barbara Lesley; Cooper, Annabel; Law, Robin (2003). Sites of gender: women, men and modernity in Southern Dunedin, 1890-1939. Auckland University Press. p. 126. ISBN978-1-86940-305-8.
^"Christchurch retailer Arthur Barnett to close". New Zealand Herald. 1 February 2006. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
^"Beath's in second change of direction". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
^"End of an era". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
^"Last of D.I.C." paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
^"Invercargill department store doomed for demolishment gets last hoorah". 26 July 2019.
^"Cashfields". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
^Laurenson, Helen (10 March 2010). "Department stores and shopping malls - Decline and survival". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
^Downs, Jeff (2009). (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2016.
January 01, 1970
department, store, originally, drapery, general, importing, company, zealand, zealand, department, store, chain, founded, dunedin, bendix, hallenstein, 1884, former, flagship, princes, street, dunedinfounded1884founderbendix, hallensteindefunct1991, 1991, pare. The D I C originally the Drapery and General Importing Company of New Zealand Ltd was a New Zealand department store chain founded in Dunedin by Bendix Hallenstein in 1884 1 2 D I C Former flagship on Princes Street DunedinFounded1884FounderBendix HallensteinDefunct1991 1991 ParentArthur Barnett 1988 1991 It was bought out by one of its chief rivals Arthur Barnett in the 1980s 3 The site of the company s former headquarters and flagship store is now occupied by the Dunedin Public Art Gallery although the facade of the Princes Street entrance still remains in largely original condition History editHallenstein opened the first Drapery and General Importing Company store in 1884 in Dunedin Central 4 A second store opened in Christchurch in 1885 4 In 1977 D I C with the Canterbury Farmers Co operative they took over the Beaths Department Store brand with D I C taking over the Cashel Street store and the Farmers Co op took over the New Brighton store and the Ashburton store which was closed as part of the takeover 5 In 1978 Beaths and D I C merged and the Christchurch store was rebranded to D I C Beaths 6 In 1979 D I C left their original building in Christchurch and moved into the Beaths building 7 The chain had three stores in 1891 six stores by 1929 nine stores by 1976 and 16 stores by its takeover in 1988 4 Stores edit nbsp Pixie Town animatronic models from the Christmas display now at Toitu Otago Settlers Museum Prior to its takeover by Arthur Barnett the D I C had stores in the following locations Unless stated they were rebranded as Arthur Barnett with D I C eventually closing in 1991 Dunedin corner of The Octagon and Princes Street original store closed in 1991 Invercargill rebranded Arthur Barnett in 1989 Closed in 1990 with Farmers relocating to site in 1991 Location most recently occupied by Art Fun Wear and was demolished in 2020 as part of a redevelopment of the entire city block 8 Christchurch Cashel Street opened in 1885 burned down in 1908 and rebuilt merged with Beath s department store in 1978 and shifted into their premises rebranding as Arthur Barnett D I C then again as Arthur Barnett and closed in 2005 9 Wellington Lambton Quay Built 1928 on the site of the former D I C store closed early 1980s Building refurbished as the Harbour City Centre which opened March 1985 the Harbour City Centre is a registered Category 2 heritage landmark The six storey steel and concrete frame building consists of 2 storeys of retail and 4 storeys of offices Palmerston North Former Milne amp Choyce store now the Palmerston North City Library Rebranded as Arthur Barnett in 1989 and that store closed in 1992 10 Whanganui Hamilton converted to the Central Library in Garden Place which opened on 20 March 1993 11 Napier Hastings D I C Westermans Lower Hutt High St Rotorua Pakuranga Takapuna Central Auckland formerly George Court amp Sons References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to D I C TheDrapery and General Importing Company of New Zealand Ltd Otago Witness 30 October 1890 Retrieved 2 March 2010 Brookes Barbara Lesley Cooper Annabel Law Robin 2003 Sites of gender women men and modernity in Southern Dunedin 1890 1939 Auckland University Press p 126 ISBN 978 1 86940 305 8 Christchurch retailer Arthur Barnett to close New Zealand Herald 1 February 2006 Retrieved 2 March 2010 a b c The DIC nzfashionmuseum org nz New Zealand Fashion Museum Beath s in second change of direction paperspast natlib govt nz Retrieved 28 August 2022 End of an era paperspast natlib govt nz Retrieved 28 August 2022 Last of D I C paperspast natlib govt nz Retrieved 28 August 2022 Invercargill department store doomed for demolishment gets last hoorah 26 July 2019 Cashfields New Zealand Heritage List Rarangi Kōrero Heritage New Zealand Retrieved 30 July 2011 Laurenson Helen 10 March 2010 Department stores and shopping malls Decline and survival Te Ara the Encyclopedia of New Zealand Retrieved 18 December 2016 Downs Jeff 2009 Hamilton City Libraries 1980 2009 A Brief History PDF Archived from the original PDF on 12 October 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title D I C department store amp oldid 1219474338, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
