Kenmore State High School, Brookfield State School, Fig Tree Pocket State School and over 50 other Queensland schools have been directly impacted by the closure of Sequel Books & Stationery, amidst a struggle that has seen the company end up in liquidation, with $5 million in debt.
The shock closure has cast a shadow over the company’s long-standing contribution to Queensland’s education sector, impacting staff, students, and parents who have depended on Sequel’s services for nearly three decades.
A Legacy Unravelled
Originating 102 years ago as Bakers Bookstore and undergoing several name changes, including BCF (Barker, Conlan, and Ferrett), Sequel Books & Stationery had become an integral part of Queensland’s educational supply chain.
With a history of trading under its current name for nearly 30 years, its sudden move into liquidation on 18th of March 2024, signified the end of an era for a company that once carried the book and stationery lists for 55 schools across Queensland.
The Struggle Leading to Liquidation
Before its liquidation, Sequel Books & Stationery was overwhelmed with challenges, notably failing to fulfil outstanding orders in time for the school year’s start. This led to an inundation of customer complaints, culminating in over 1700 emails and the disabling of comments on its Facebook page due to severe customer backlash.
Bowing to the inevitable, the decision to undergo voluntary liquidation was made, with Christopher Baskerville of Jirsch Sutherland appointed to manage the liquidation process.
Impact and Reaction
The liquidation of Sequel Books & Stationery has sent shockwaves through the educational community. In a heartfelt statement, executive director Anna Henderson voiced her deep regret , attributing the closure to insurmountable economic challenges and commending her team’s dedication through tough times.
As the liquidation process unfolds, efforts are concentrated on securing the best possible outcome for creditors, including suppliers who are owed $2.3 million. The investigation into the full extent of the owed amounts and the number of creditors is ongoing.
Here are the 55 schools impacted by the collapse:
| All Saints Anglican School Aspley State School Aquinas College Bellbird Park State Secondary Belmont State School Berrinba East State School Brisbane Grammar School Brookfield State School Burleigh Heads State School Canungra State School | Manly West State School Mount Alvernia College Mount Kilcoy State School Mt Saint Michael’s College Northside Christian College Our Lady College Annerley Padua College Parklands Christian College Queensland Academy of Science Mathematics and Technology |
| Citipointe Christian College Centenary State High School Clairvaux MacKillop College Fig Tree Pocket State School Grovely State School Hilder Road State School Hillcrest Christian College Hills College Holland Park State School Jamboree Heights State School Jindalee State School | San Damiano College San Sisto College Seton College St Aidan’s Anglican Girls Schools St Francis Xavier Primary School Goodna St Joseph’s Catholic School Corinda St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School St Mary’s College St Peters Lutheran College Indooroopilly St Philomena School The Lakes College |
| John Paul College Kenmore State High School Kilcoy State Primary School Longreach School of Distance Education Marist College Ashgrove Marsden State High School Mitchelton State School | Walloon State School West Moreton Anglican College Westside Christian College Wisdom College Wondall Heights State School Yeronga State School |
Published 21-March-2024