Bakery the latest to shut doors amid string of Hills closures
An Adelaide Hills bakery is the latest small business to shut up shop as “impossible” cost-of-living pressures take a toll.
Stirling Bakery will permanently shut its doors after more than four-and-a-half years of operation in the Adelaide Hills.
The small business announced its sudden closure in a Facebook post on Thursday, citing a lease expiry and growing financial challenges as the primary factors behind its demise.
“It is with very heavy hearts we want to let our wonderful customers know that our lease has come to an end and we have made the difficult decision to close our doors permanently,” the Facebook post said
“Like so many small businesses, the current economic climate and the extreme rise in costs from every direction has made it impossible for us to continue making a living doing what we love.”
The bakery thanked its loyal customers and welcomed them to join for the final day of business on Monday, May 25.
“To every single person who has walked through our doors, bought a coffee, shared a conversation, supported us during the hard times, recommended us to others, or simply kept showing up — thank you,” the post said.
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“We would love to see as many of you as possible over these final few days so we can thank you in person.”
Commenters expressed their support of the business, one saying “Best bakery in Stirling! So sorry to hear this”.
It is the second Stirling small business to close this month, with children’s clothing shop Daisy and Hen holding its final day of trading on May 8.
Local member for Heysen and Liberal MP Josh Teague told InDaily the “quick succession” of small business closures was felt widely across the Adelaide Hills community, saying tax reform would assist struggling businesses.
“We obviously feel very much for small businesses that are struggling, and when there’s a closure it’s felt by everyone, as we’ve seen with the heartfelt responses from the community,” Teague said.
“Those who’ve got the get up and go to start their own small business in all sorts of practical ways benefit when, for a start, the government doesn’t make their life any more complicated than it needs to be.
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“We’ve called for tax reform and for Productivity Commission across the board to do an overall red tape review, so that we can just make sure the path is more straightforward for day-to-day admin for businesses.”
Teague said the Stirling community was still facing challenges 18 months after a fire that ravaged its local Woolworths in late 2024.
“Everybody’s very focused on the fact that we need businesses that are drawing people back to do their shopping at the village across the board, and the rebuild of Woolworths is a really important part of that process,” he said.
“We really hope that that is going to make a positive effect in terms of bringing people back and having a benefit for business across the board.”
The bakery is the latest small business to close its doors in a string of Adelaide Hills closures this year.
Mawson Café in Meadows planned to shut its doors in May following a lease expiry but announced on social media it would instead close five months early in January.
“Due to a number of incredibly tough and unforeseen challenges, we’ve been unable to reopen. With one month of our planned five-month closure already gone, it’s simply no longer viable for us to open our doors again,” the post said.
“We are absolutely heartbroken.”
Meadows Country Meats also announced its closure to social media in April, saying, “this decision wasn’t an easy one to make, and we are so grateful for the support from our amazing customers and community over the years”.
Long-standing Nairne café and strawberry picking business Green Valley Strawberries also announced it would cease commercial strawberry production and café operations in Facebook post earlier this month.
The family-owned strawberry growing business was in operation for 42 years and the accompanying café was a local staple for 14 years.
“With the season now coming to an end, and uncertainty about what it would be without the strawberries, we’ve made the difficult decision to close indefinitely and take some time away to pause and reset,” the post said.
“I’ll never say no to a comeback in the future but for now, it’s time to slow down and embrace a different kind of life.”
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