28/05/2026
TLDR $1000 Reward leading to arrest of the burglary of our Pub. Real photo from our CCTV attached and in poster.
This morning, our beloved Farmers Arms Creswick was broken into overnight.
Around $400 in cash was stolen, but far more damaging, was the extensive property damage caused, which affected our ability to trade properly today and placed enormous stress on our staff and business. Despite this, we just want justice and for this to stop on all our towns' businesses and residents.
What hurts most is not the money - it s the feeling that this sort of behaviour is becoming normal. It s not normal. And our town deserves better.
I've lived in Creswick for 18 years. While many people associate me with Daylesford because I previously operated a successful business there, Creswick has always been my home. Every night, I came home to this beautiful town because this is where my heart is.
Like many hospitality operators across Victoria, the last few years have been incredibly hard. Since COVID, I honestly have not taken a proper salary. Everything has gone back into keeping the doors open, supporting local employment, and keeping this historic pub alive for the community, and then on top of this the trolling online by the very people who are in this ugly world of drugs and crime. I've stayed silent, but I can't do this anymore, I'm seriously fed up, putting everything on the line, extensive loans to keep the doors open, huge risks because of my love for the pub and the town. I need the town to help me find these scumbags.
Today we had police, detectives and security attend throughout the day. Unfortunately fingerprints could not be obtained as gloves were worn.
Despite already having 3 security systems and 28 cameras across the venue, we are now being forced to spend thousands more upgrading security again.
And yet - despite only having $400 stolen - we are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest because this behaviour has to stop.
This is bigger than one business.
Across Melbourne with recent firebombs targeting hospitality and pubs and our venues already under enormous pressure. Businesses are being targeted, damaged, intimidated and pushed to breaking point. Small business owners are exhausted, I'm exhausted and we have to support one another, we have to look after one another hence the $1000 reward.
But enough is enough.
The constant negativity, fake profiles, online slander and attacks on hardworking people trying to contribute positively to the town needs to stop too. Most people in this community are wonderful, hardworking humans - and those are the people we continue doing this for. I want the scum to disappear.
We are asking the community to stand together.
If you know something, say something. Even the smallest piece of information may help.
A $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest. Confidentiality will be protected.
Please privately message the Farmers Arms Creswick page or speak confidentially with our bottle shop team.
Thank you to the many locals who checked in on us today, offered support, and reminded us why we continue fighting for this town.
We are still here. And we are not giving up on Creswick.
Thanks for reading if you made it to the end.
Chris and Farmers Arms Creswick
(Thanks for your support).
