The historic Harcourt Cooperative Cool Stores, a vital hub for central Victoria's boutique wine and craft beer producers, has been completely destroyed by the devastating bushfires that swept through the region on Friday night. The inferno consumed not only a century-old business but also the priceless stock and equipment of around 85 local enterprises, dealing a catastrophic blow to a passionate and close-knit industry.
A Community Hub Reduced to Ashes
For fifty years, Trevor Peeler has driven through the gates of the Cool Stores, a cluster of refrigerated sheds established in 1917 for a cooperative of local apple growers. In recent decades, it evolved into an essential storage facility for a new wave of winemakers and brewers. Peeler, a fifth-generation Harcourt apple grower who managed the site, was away protecting his own home when the fire, which continues to burn in Harcourt and Ravenswood, took everything.
"You actually can't be happy about it," Peeler said of saving his house. "You can feel lucky, but you can't feel happy because you look at everyone else who's lost their homes and it's just unimaginable." The emotional toll is profound, with Peeler describing his customers as friends and feeling helpless in the face of their loss.
‘You Can't Replace Time’: Producers Count the Cost
The fire has wiped out liquid stock, ingredients, packaging, specialised equipment, and entire distilleries. For French winemaker Gilles Lapalus, the loss is immeasurable. Having used the Cool Stores for 15 years, he lost all his equipment and most of his stock, including museum wine dating back 20 years and a 10-year-old solera system.
"You can never replace that, because you can't replace time," Lapalus said, admitting he is struggling to process the reality that the site is now flattened. The scale of loss is echoed by others. Ken Gilchrist and Kaye Graves of the GilGraves vineyard estimate they lost 97% of their stock, while Love Shack Brewing Co lost 350 kegs and 1,400 slabs of beer, with owner Conna Mallett putting the cost at around $120,000.
Doug Falconer of Shedshaker Brewery and Taproom lost about 80% of his stock and most packaging. He emphasised the pivotal role of the Cool Stores, calling it a meeting place where producers would chat. "The role the Cool Stores played was absolutely pivotal for anyone producing anything that needs cold storage within 100km," Falconer stated.
Rising from the Ashes with Community Support
Amid the numbness and shock, a steely resolve and a huge well of community goodwill are emerging. Gilchrist and Graves have vowed that "GilGraves will rise from the ashes," urging people to support the industry by buying local. This community spirit was powerfully demonstrated at a fundraising event at Castlemaine's Boomtown Winery, organised by owner Tim Sproal.
The event, intended as a free lunch, snowballed into a major fundraiser, with local venues and producers donating drinks and businesses providing $25,000 in prizes. The raffle alone raised over $130,000 by Sunday evening, showcasing the area's collective determination to support those affected.
Uncertainty over insurance coverage now looms large for all businesses, with answers urgently needed in the coming days. Looking ahead, Trevor Peeler hopes to one day rebuild the Cool Stores in a way that better serves his community. "One thing I have learned in this process is if you treat people well, it'll come back to you," he reflected. "Even though I'm an old bloke, it's taught me a lifelong lesson." For now, the industry mourns the loss of its heart, a place where stock was kept and friendships were forged.
