The full list of Target stores that will close and those that will rebrand into Kmart

Fans were left in shock on Friday, when Wesfarmers announced it will be closing or converting Target stores into Kmart across the nation.

The massive restructure sees 160 Target stores across the country will either close or be rebranded into Kmart stores.

And now, the full list of Target stores which are set to close or be rebranded has been released, according to the ABC, and it appears it’s the regional towns which have been hit the hardest.

NSW

Stores to close:

• Armidale

• Campbelltown

• Casino Retail Centre

• Cooma

• Cootamundra

• Corowa

• Deniliquin

• Forbes

• Goonellabah

• Leeton

• Merimbula

• Morisset

• Murgon

• Murwillumbah

• Narrabri

• Nowra

• Salamander Bay

• Scone

• Wagga Wagga

• Winmalee

Stores to rebrand as Kmart:

• Bega

• Bowral

• Gunnedah

• Katoomba

• Moree

• Mudgee

• Ocean Shores Village Centre

• Picton

• Tumut

• Ulladulla

• Windsor Town S/C

• Yamba

• Yass

Victoria

Stores to close:

• Bacchus Marsh

• Bairnsdale

• Benalla

• Colac

• Kerang

• Langwarrin

• Maryborough

• Myrtleford

• Traralgon

• Warragul

Stores to rebrand as Kmart:

• Ararat

• Castlemaine

• Cobram

• Echuca

• Hamilton

• Kyabram

• Lakes Entrance

• Leongatha

• Mansfield

• Portland

• Seymour

• Woodend

• Yarrawonga

Queensland

Stores to close:

• Atherton

• Beaudesert

• Biloela

• Clifton Beach

• Emerald

• Kippa-Ring

• Longreach

• Moranbah

Stores to rebrand as Kmart:

• Ayr

• Beerwah

• Bowen

• Charters Towers

• Chinchilla

• Dalby

• Gatton

• Goondiwindi

• Gympie

• Ingham

• Mareeba

• Noosa Junction

• Port Douglas

• Roma

• Sarina

• Stanthorpe

• Warwick

• Yeppoon

South Australia

Stores to close:

• Clare

• Millicent

• Naracoorte

• Pasadena

• Port Lincoln

Store to rebrand as Kmart:

• Berri

• Murray Bridge

• Port Augusta

• Victor Harbor

Western Australia

Stores to close:

• Busselton

• Karratha

• Kununurra

• Manjimup

• Margaret River

• Meadow River

• Meadow Springs

• Merredin

• Narrogin

Stores to rebrand as Kmart:

• Esperance

• Geraldton

• Northam

• Pinjarra

Tasmania

Stores to close:

• Devonport

ACT

Stores to close:

• Weston Creek

NT

Stores to rebrand as Kmart:

• Katherine

According to parent company Wesfarmers, a review in April of Target found that the closures or conversions needed to take place in order to reduce its "unsustainable cost base”.

Fans took to Twitter on Friday with mixed feelings about the closures. While many were upset that they will potentially have to farewell their local Target, others are ecstatic at the idea of shopping at Kmart instead.

"Why. Why would they do this. Target have better quality products, with more range. I love Kmart but this is wrong," one fan wrote.

Another called it a "tragedy", "What a tragedy. I’ve been shopping at target since mum took us there was a kid, I’m 50 next year."

"I don’t like Kmart.. Target have a better range of tech, toys, gaming, better bed spreads, Kmart is just cheap and tacky," said one user.

Some, however, had been expecting the change with one person writing, "Writing was on the wall for Target for a while."

"Let's face it, 'Target mums' are not a cultural phenomenon but 'Kmart mums' are. Target's thrown a lot of s**t at the wall (Baby Target; Urban by Target; Target Country) and tbh Kmart's stylish homewares have cannibalised Target's 'upmarket' tone," another added.

"It's funny how we all 'love' Kmart now .. Yet go back go 2008 and prior... Nobody wanted to shop there and it was Target we all shopped at. Wesfarmers single handedly destroyed one, while the other boomed, after the 2007 take-over of Coles-Myer Group. Sad for all employees,” someone else said.

A Target spokesperson told Yahoo Lifestyle: “During this difficult time, we are committed to supporting our team. Across the Kmart Group we have made a significant effort to avoid store closures and retain our people and for impacted store team members we have the benefit of time to help find alternative employment opportunities.

“All team members in Target stores scheduled for conversion to Kmart will be offered the opportunity to join the growing Kmart team, for other affected Target team members, we will work with them to identify and offer other redeployment opportunities in Kmart, Catch, Bunnings and Officeworks as these businesses continue to grow.

“We believe that Target has a future as a leading retailer in Australia and we know it is loved by so many, but a number of actions are required to ensure it is fit for purpose in a competitive, challenging and dynamic market, including a smaller number of stores and a stronger online business.”

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