An invite to The Standard for the launch party featuring Miss Universe Australia Olivia Rogers said: “Warrnambool is the first of all Thomas stores across Australia to be refurbished with other country stores to follow.”

Now, the company has advised all stores will close in coming months.

The Standard asked Thomas managing director Jamie Thomas how many employees would lose their job and when staff found out about the closure, however he did not respond to the questions. 

In a statement, the Thomas Group said the closures were “a move designed to refocus their attention to areas of strength and growth within their business”.

“This news marks the end of an era and the beginning of another, as the Thomas Group will be leveraging the current growth in the capital cities to consolidate and expand its commercial and residential portfolio,” the company said.

The regional store properties will be sold, but the company’s store in the Royal Arcade in Melbourne will be leased. 

The Thomas Jewellers Facebook page has a message advising customers of a closing down sale, and the website is not working, instead displaying a maintenance message.

While some stores closing displayed posters advertising a “reno sale” on Monday, the Warrnambool shop appeared to be trading as usual without such advertising.

In October last year a big red sign was unveiled on the Thomas building, advising customers the store would close for six weeks while it underwent renovations and re-branding. The Warrnambool store opened in 2004. 

The Thomas group is holding a “finest wedding in the country” competition, to give one couple from seven regional areas the opportunity to win a wedding worth $50,000. The competition has attracted hundreds of entries. On Facebook, the company said it would continue the competition and honour all prize commitments to the winners.

The company was established in Ballarat in 1896 before expanding to several other locations, including Bendigo, Albury, Wagga Wagga, Geelong, Shepparton and Melbourne.