After 18 years of serving the community with fresh baked goods, St George Bakery located in south-west Queensland, is closing its doors.

Owners Trent and Elizabeth Challenger, who started with big dreams and little money, announced the closure in a video shared on their Facebook page. In the video, the pair candidly reflected on their journey and the bakery’s deep connection to the local community.

St George Bakery’s story is one of resilience. The first few years were marked by challenges, including devastating floods in the area, occurring in 2010 and twice in 2011 and 2012. Despite these, the bakery never wavered from their mission to create a business that could become a local hub and a must-see destination for tourists.

The Challengers’ passion for baking, as well as their commitment to quality, was evident in everything they did. Trent, the head baker, was responsible for creating new baked goods and teaching staff, while Elizabeth managed the business side and, of course, acted as the taste tester.

“I live next door to the bakery, so I walk next door around two o’clock in the morning and I’ll give her [Elizabeth] a nudge because she’s fast asleep. I say, ‘let’s try this’ and I give her something new to try,” Trent said.

“She then wakes up around four o’clock in the morning to start working and there’s breadcrumbs and biscuit crumbs all beside the pillow. She’s definitely my chief taster.”

The bakery achieved much success—winning awards like first prize for the Great Aussie Pie Contest and places in the annual Queensland Baking Show. Generosity also marked their years in business, as they often lent a helping hand to others.

“We’ve helped our apprentices earn their trade certificates. We’ve watched many juniors become great young adults. We have also sponsored a number of staff to become Australian citizens,” Elizabeth shared.

“We’re proud of the amazing culture, brand, and team we’ve created that is recognisable as Australia.”

Despite these achievements, the financial pressures of rising costs and increasingly stringent regulations have made it impossible to continue.  Through all the ups and downs, they’ve garnered immense gratitude from the community, with countless positive messages pouring in on social media as they announce their closure.

Trent and Elizabeth are hopeful for the future, but they will always hold dear the memories of the bakery that became a beloved part of St George.