A 134-year-old Australian retailer that was once the go-to for school shoes will close half its stores as it shifts more of its focus online.

Only 15 of Betts’ 35 Australian stores will survive the cull that was triggered after a voluntary administrator was brought in to accelerate a business restructure.

Lindsay Bainbridge, from Pitcher Partners Melbourne, said a recent slump in consumer sentiment, higher fuel prices and rising business costs meant they had no option but to close underperforming stores.

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“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.

“But the retail conditions and falling foot traffic in a lot of centres just are not sustainable for the business.

“We will close some stores, focus on strengthening others, and continue the company’s plans to expand retail online.” 

Where Betts will close its stores

- Western Australia: Betts Hay Street (Hay Street Mall), Betts Gateway (Cockburn Gateway), Betts Mandurah (Mandurah Forum), Betts Brand Direct WA (Watertown Brand Outlet West Perth), Betts Brand Direct DFO Perth (Perth Airport), Betts Whitfords (Whitford City store), one of two Betts Joondalup stores;

- South Australia: Betts Modbury (Westfield Tea Tree Plaza), Betts West Lakes (Westfield West Lakes), Betts Marion (Westfield Marion);

- Northern Territory: Betts Casuarina (Casuarina Square);

- New South Wales: Betts Macquarie (Macquarie Centre North Ryde), Betts Liverpool (Westfield Liverpool), Betts Rouse Hill (Rouse Hill Town Centre), Betts Kotara (Westfield Kotara);

- Victoria: Betts Greensborough (Greensborough Plaza), Betts Ringwood (Eastland Shopping Centre), Betts Doncaster (Westfield Doncaster), Betts Fountain Gate (Westfield Fountain Gate);

- Queensland: Betts Indooroopilly (Indooroopilly Shopping Centre).

Betts was launched by the Breckler brothers in Fremantle in 1892 and at its peak had operated 220 stores.

Those numbers have dwindled in recent years, with declining foot traffic and a shift to online shopping blamed for the contraction.

WA is set to lose seven of its remaining 11 stores, with its outlet at Whitford City and one of two in Joondalup closing this weekend.

But Perth-based Betts stores in Booragoon, Carousel and Karrinyup will survive, as will flagship stores in central Sydney and Melbourne.

Bainbridge said the company had made efforts to “support” team members based at closing stores, with some staff to be relocated.

About 70 in-store roles will be affected in WA.

Betts has announced it is closing 20 shoe stores across the country. Credit: Betts /Facebook

The administrator said more than 120,000 pairs of shoes, bags and accessories will go on sale as stores are closed.

“Customers can check stock online, but the best deals will be in the stores flagged for closure, where we will be running out stock,” Bainbridge said.

The news follows a brutal June in which activewear brand Tully Lou announced it was hitting pause, and fashion retailer Glue announced it was closing its remaining stores and its website for good after almost 30 years.

In the same month, beloved craft and fabric business Lincraft said it is moving its operation completely online, and news broke that Barbeques Galore will close dozens of stores across Australia.

“I often refer to it as the killing season,” Queensland University of Technology retail marketing and consumer behaviour expert Gary Mortimer told 7NEWS.com.au of June, when business boards run the magnifying glass over the books.