Clive Peeters
Australian electrical, computer, kitchen and whitegoods retailer that operated under the Clive Peeters and Rick Hart banners.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Clive Peeters was an Australian retail chain focused on electrical goods, computers, kitchens and whitegoods. The business began with stores in Melbourne in 1973 and later expanded beyond Victoria, opening in Brisbane in 2001 and operating locations in Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania. Its retail offer covered a broad range of household and technology products, with the chain stating that its stores carried more than 140 brands and over 20,000 individual models. The company expanded its geographic reach in 2005 by acquiring the Rick Hart retail chain in Western Australia. The acquired stores continued trading under the Rick Hart name rather than being immediately converted to the Clive Peeters banner. This gave the group exposure to the Western Australian market while preserving a locally established retail identity. Clive Peeters experienced a severe financial and governance crisis after the discovery of a major internal payroll fraud. In 2009, the company reported that its payroll manager, Sonya Denise Causer, had manipulated payroll figures and transferred the difference between actual and reported expenses into accounts she controlled. The theft, which occurred from November 2007 through June 2009, was reported as exceeding A$20 million. The company pursued civil action concerning assets associated with the fraud. The crisis culminated in the appointment of McGrathNicol as voluntary administrators. Trading in the company’s shares on the Australian Securities Exchange stopped on 19 May 2010 while administrators sought to sell or otherwise restructure the business. Certain locations were subsequently acquired by Harvey Norman, identified in the reference material as acting through The Derni Group, in July 2010. The acquired operations initially continued as independent Clive Peeters and Rick Hart stores. Nik Papa became general manager in July 2010. In August 2011, Harvey Norman executive chairman Gerry Harvey said that the Clive Peeters name had been damaged beyond practical repair. Harvey Norman then announced a broader conversion and rationalisation: 13 Clive Peeters stores and five Rick Hart stores were to become Harvey Norman locations, with two of those sites converted to Joyce Mayne, while four Clive Peeters stores and three Rick Hart stores were to close and be sold because of overlap with existing group locations. The Clive Peeters brand therefore disappeared as an operating retail banner.
History
Clive Peeters developed as an Australian specialist retail chain selling electrical goods, computers, kitchens and whitegoods. Its first stores opened in Melbourne in 1973. The business later expanded interstate, including an entry into Brisbane in 2001, and operated stores in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania. Its merchandise model was deliberately broad: stores carried more than 140 brands and over 20,000 individual models across its main categories. In 2005, Clive Peeters acquired the Rick Hart chain in Western Australia. Rather than immediately replacing the acquired identity, the stores continued trading as Rick Hart. The acquisition extended the group’s presence into a new state and created a multi-banner retail structure. The company’s later history was dominated by a serious internal-control failure. In 2009, it became known that payroll manager Sonya Denise Causer had inflated reported payroll expenses and used online banking access to transfer the discrepancy to accounts under her control. The reported theft exceeded A$20 million and was said to have taken place between November 2007 and June 2009. Causer was also reported to have used the proceeds to acquire property and vehicles. Clive Peeters initiated civil proceedings seeking recovery of assets associated with the fraud. The fraud and the company’s financial condition led to a formal administration process. McGrathNicol was appointed as voluntary administrator, and trading in Clive Peeters shares on the Australian Securities Exchange stopped on 19 May 2010. A sale process followed. In July 2010, Harvey Norman acquired selected locations, with the acquired stores initially continuing to trade independently under the Clive Peeters and Rick Hart names. Nik Papa was appointed general manager in July 2010. The post-acquisition strategy changed in 2011. Harvey Norman executive chairman Gerry Harvey publicly characterised the Clive Peeters brand as irreparably damaged and acknowledged that taking it over had been a poor business decision. The group announced that 13 Clive Peeters stores and five Rick Hart stores would be converted into Harvey Norman locations, except for two sites intended to become Joyce Mayne stores. Four Clive Peeters stores and three Rick Hart stores were to be closed and sold because their locations overlapped with existing group outlets. These conversions and closures ended Clive Peeters as a continuing retail brand.
- 2011
Brand conversion and store closures announced
[1]Harvey Norman announced plans to convert or close the remaining Clive Peeters and Rick Hart stores, removing the Clive Peeters banner from the market.
- 2010
Shares cease trading and administration begins
[1]Trading in Clive Peeters shares stopped on 19 May, after McGrathNicol was appointed as voluntary administrator.
- 2010
Selected stores acquired by Harvey Norman
[1]Harvey Norman acquired selected Clive Peeters locations and the group’s Rick Hart operations in July, initially preserving the existing banners.
- 2009
Payroll fraud becomes public
[1]The company discovered and reported a payroll manipulation scheme involving more than A$20 million and began civil recovery proceedings.
- 2005
Acquisition of Rick Hart
[1]Clive Peeters bought the Rick Hart retail chain in Western Australia. The acquired outlets retained the Rick Hart trading name.
- 2001
Expansion into Brisbane
[1]Clive Peeters opened its first Brisbane stores, extending the chain beyond its Melbourne origins.
- 1973
First stores open in Melbourne
[1]The original Clive Peeters owners opened the first stores in Melbourne, establishing the Australian electrical and appliance retail chain.
Products and positioning
A broad-range specialist retailer for household appliances, electrical goods, computers and kitchens, competing through extensive brand and model selection rather than a narrowly defined product niche.
Home appliances
Electrical appliances
Electrical appliances formed a central part of the Clive Peeters retail assortment. The chain sold products from a large number of manufacturers through a broad store-based selection rather than limiting itself to a single appliance category.
Consumer technology
Computers
Clive Peeters retailed computers and related technology products as part of its electrical and consumer-electronics offering. The available reference material does not identify specific computer brands, models or proprietary product lines.
Kitchen products
Kitchens
Kitchen products were one of the chain’s named operating categories. The business presented kitchens alongside appliances and whitegoods, but the available material does not provide details about installation services, formats or individual ranges.
Home appliances
Whitegoods
Whitegoods, including major household appliances, were a core part of the retailer’s proposition. Stores offered a large selection of brands and models, although the source does not specify individual products or exclusive ranges.
Controversies
2009
Internal payroll fraud
Payroll manager Sonya Denise Causer was reported to have overstated payroll expenses and transferred the difference into accounts she controlled. The scheme allegedly ran from November 2007 to June 2009 and exceeded A$20 million. Clive Peeters pursued civil action to recover assets associated with the alleged fraud.
Brand decisions
2011
Conversion and rationalisation of acquired storesStrategyBackground
Harvey Norman concluded that the Clive Peeters name had been too severely damaged to maintain as a retail banner, while some locations overlapped with existing group stores.
Action taken
Thirteen Clive Peeters stores and five Rick Hart stores were designated for conversion to Harvey Norman, with two planned as Joyce Mayne locations. Four Clive Peeters stores and three Rick Hart stores were designated for closure and sale.
Aftermath
The plan removed the Clive Peeters brand from active retail operations.
2010
Appointment of voluntary administratorsStrategyBackground
Following the payroll fraud and the company’s financial difficulties, Clive Peeters required an orderly sale or restructuring process.
Action taken
McGrathNicol was appointed as voluntary administrator, and trading in the company’s ASX shares ceased on 19 May 2010.
Aftermath
Selected stores were acquired by Harvey Norman in July 2010.
2005
Acquisition of the Rick Hart chainM&ABackground
Clive Peeters sought to expand its retail footprint by purchasing Rick Hart stores in Western Australia.
Action taken
The company acquired the Rick Hart chain while allowing the stores to continue operating under the Rick Hart name.
Aftermath
The acquisition created a multi-banner structure, but the Rick Hart stores were later included in Harvey Norman’s conversion and closure plans.
Recent events
- 2011
Clive Peeters banner is scheduled for conversion or closure[1]
M&A
Harvey Norman executive chairman Gerry Harvey said the Clive Peeters name was too damaged to retain. Thirteen Clive Peeters stores and five Rick Hart stores were planned for conversion to Harvey Norman or Joyce Mayne, while other sites were to close.
- 2010
Clive Peeters enters voluntary administration[1]
Bankruptcy
The company appointed McGrathNicol as voluntary administrators while seeking a sale or other resolution for the business. Trading in its ASX shares ceased on 19 May 2010.
- 2010
Harvey Norman acquires selected Clive Peeters and Rick Hart locations[1]
M&A
Certain stores were acquired by Harvey Norman through The Derni Group in July. The stores initially continued operating under their existing Clive Peeters and Rick Hart identities.
Sources1 sources
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