In 1954 the Sydney firm David Jones bought Charles Birks department store, in Rundle Street since 1880. Between 1960 and 1962 it replaced the Birks store with a new building. It featured a sculpture, ‘Progress’, by Sydney artist Lyndon Dadswell. Premier Playford unveiled the one ton copper sculpture which The Advertiser reported proudly was ’the largest single sculpture figure in Australia.’
The unveiling preceded the completion of the building in order to coincide with the second Festival of Arts in Adelaide.
