By FREDDY PAWLE FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 21:07 GMT, 29 December 2024 | Updated: 22:02 GMT, 29 December 2024

The owners of an iconic pub have announced it will close its doors after serving locals for more than 150 years.

The Creekside Hotel in Warracknabeal, western Victoria, will call last drinks for the final time on New Year’s Eve after a turbulent year led to massive debts.

‘While this is not how we saw the future going … We are thankful to those who supported us along the way,’ a Facebook post reads.

The owners of the historic Victorian-style pub said they had gone into partnership, but ‘things declined’. 

The partnership collapsed soon after, leaving the inexperienced owners to invest ‘personal money’ in a final bid to trade out of their debts. 

Their attempt fell as the economy slowed and operating costs soared, meaning they could ‘not catch up’.

They said the pub was ‘going the way of many restaurants (and) hotels’ and now joins the number of venues which have shut down over the past year.  

Increased interest rates, alcohol excises and reduced spending put the hospitality industry in a bind in 2024, leaving eight per cent of venues at risk of closing.

Owners of the Creekside Hotel (pictured), in western Victoria, have announced it will close its doors after serving locals for more than 150 years 

The owners also blamed the closure on the stress they were placed under after their business partnership collapsed.

‘Moving to front of house duties has caused a great deal of unwarranted and unwanted stress,’ the post reads.

They also noted ‘rumours’ which had been spreading around the town of just more than 2,500.

‘We have not, until this message, wanted to comment as we felt that we should focus on the business,’ the owners said.

Locals were shocked to hear the news of the pub’s closure, saying the owners had done a ‘great job’ even with their inexperience.

‘My husband and I loved coming over for a meal & not once were we disappointed, stand tall, you gave it your best shot,’ one said.

‘Sorry to read this you guys were doing a great job,’ a second said.

A third said the pub was ‘such a lovely place’.

The pub first opened as the Commercial Hotel in 1870 but will shut under the pressure of piling debts and soaring operating costs

The pub first opened as the Commercial Hotel in 1870 but will shut under the pressure of piling debts and soaring operating costs

The host of the pub’s bimonthly trivia night said he ‘had a wonderful time’ working with the owners. 

‘The pub was such a warm and friendly environment … The patrons will miss this place so much,’ he wrote.

‘Friendliest trivia night I’ve ever done and I’ve done quite a few.’

More to come. 

:
Creekside Hotel to close after more than 150 years as devastated owners reveal reason for shock decision

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