New Zealand's oldest store trading under its original name will shut up shop this afternoon.

Wellington department store Kirkcaldie & Stains had been trading since 1863, but has recently been running a closing-down sale.

Shareholders voted last year to sell the struggling brand and assign the store lease to Australian retailer David Jones.

On the the last day of business it's the sale where everything really does have to go, even the mannequins.

NZME's Rob Webb was part of the large crowd outside the store when it opened this morning, he said

"People [were] picking over the bargains, all stock is on the ground floor and even the shop fittings are for sale."