How To Support Victorian Businesses Devastated by the 2026 Bushfires

On Saturday January 10, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan declared a State of Disaster due to bushfires in multiple parts of Victoria. The fires claimed the life of a cattle farmer identified by the Age as Maxwell Hobson and destroyed more than 350 structures and 1000 agricultural properties, according to the ABC. 

Donating directly is the best way to help, but it’s not the only way. Many impacted businesses are asking for support, and members of the community are organising independent fundraisers.

For those affected by the January 2026 fires, Emergency Victoria has information and resources here.

Where to donate

2026 Victorian Bushfire Appeal

The Victorian Emergency Relief and Recovery Foundation has launched the January 2026 Victorian Bushfire Appeal to raise funds to support communities, farmers and businesses affected by the fires. Donate here.

Victorian Farmers Federation Disaster Relief Fund

The Victorian Farmers Federation has opened donations for its Disaster Relief Fund. Funds go towards assisting farmers in times of crisis. Donate here.

Harcourt Progress Relief Fund

Local non-profit, Harcourt Progress Association, has launched an official Go Fund Me. The funds will be used for things including emergency relief for displaced families and essential household items such as clothing, bedding, and food.

Bendigo Food Share

Bendigo Food Share is working to offer food relief to the community in Harcourt and Castlemaine. It's asking for donations of funds, non-perishable food and calling for volunteers to support relief efforts.

Bendigo Bank

Bendigo Bank has launched a Victorian Bushfire Appeal. Donations given to support a specific impacted area will remain within that community to aid in its recovery.

Castlemaine Community House

Castlemaine Community House is accepting donations of non-perishable food and toiletry items for its food pantry.

Trust for Nature

Trust for Nature is a conservation organisation that works to help landowners protect nature on their property. It has launched a Bushfire Recovery Appeal to support private land conservation efforts. 

Taradale CFA

Taradale CFA has set up a Go Fund Me to support four volunteers from Harcourt CFA who have lost homes and businesses to the bushfires.

Feed the Valley fundraiser

Farmer Greg Conlan started a Go Fund Me to purchase hay and fodder to be distributed to farmers impacted by the fires. Conlan is sharing updates on his @jackstar_pastoral Instagram account.  

Organic Investment Cooperative Resilience & Recovery Fund

Organic Investment Cooperative supports organic and biodynamic producers that are impacted by bushfires, floods and other natural disasters. Its reopened its Resilience & Recovery Fund to support farmers affected by the January fires.  

Impacted businesses

Harcourt Cooperative Cool Stores

Harcourt Cooperative Cool Stores provided storage of apples, pears, seed potatoes, wine, craft beer and bee hives to about 85 businesses, according to the Guardian. The refrigerated sheds were destroyed by bushfires on Friday January 9. 

Da Noi restaurant farm

Pietro Porcu of South Yarra’s Da Noi has operated a restaurant farm in Yarck for two decades. The farm – including Pietro’s home, animals and orchards, as well as the infrastructure and machinery that supports Da Noi’s wholesale egg business – has been completely destroyed. “Other than the deep sense of loss and grief we are experiencing from losing our home, we are grieving our beautiful animals and orchards that we have spent 20 years growing using traditional Sardinian farming practices. The farm was a paradise for animals large and small and all wildlife,” Pietro told Broadsheet via email. His daughter, Romey Porcu, has launched a Chuffed campaign to help replace Pietro’s water tank and fencing. Da Noi is also selling merch.

Henry of Harcourt

Craft cider company Henry of Harcourt’s orchard has been almost wiped out, co-owner Michael Henry told the ABC. A Go Fund Me has been set up to both help support the business and rebuild Henry’s home, which was lost to the fires.  

Fowles

All 300 acres of vines across Fowles’s 1800-acre farm in the Strathbogie Ranges, as well as the Fowles family home, have been destroyed by the fires. The winery facility in the Strathbogie Ranges, plus the warehouse, cellar door and restaurant in Avenel, are unaffected. The Fowles family is asking people to support by purchasing wine through the Fowles website, joining the wine club and visiting the cellar door.

Maidenii

Maidenii has lost equipment as well as all its vintage vermouth and museum stock, which was stored at Harcourt Cooperative Cool Stores. The company is asking people to support by purchasing Maidenii from Blackhearts & Sparrows and Dan Murphy’s. A Go Fund Me has been set up to raise funds to help re-establish Maidenii and Maison Lapalus.

Maison Lapalus

Gilles Lapalus’s wine business Maison Lapalus lost all of its stock and equipment, the company stated in an Instagram post. A Go Fund Me has been set up to raise funds to help re-establish Maidenii and Maison Lapalus.

Sutton Grange Winery

Sutton Grange Winery has lost a significant amount of stock, though the farm and buildings remain undamaged, the company stated via an Instagram post.

Gil Graves Wines

Gil Graves lost an estimated 97 per cent of its stock due to the fire at Harcourt Cooperative Cool Stores, the Guardian reports. The Axedale vineyard is safe from fires.

Love Shack Brewing Co

Castlemaine public bar and brewery Love Shack has lost an estimated $200,000 worth of stock and packaging which was stored at Harcourt Cooperative Cool Stores, according to the Age. The team has launched a membership drive, and a range of limited-edition merch is available for pre-order until Monday January 26.

Shedshaker Brewery and Taproom

Castlemaine microbrewery Shedshaker lost around 80 per cent of its stock due to the fire at Harcourt Cooperative Cool Stores, the Guardian reports.

A Glass Of

Paul Taylor’s A Glass Of, which sells 200-millilitre samplers of wine by independent winemakers, lost all of its stock, equipment and packaging. Taylor has launched a Go Fund Me to help get the company back up and running.

Blackjack Wines

Harcourt’s Blackjack Wines lost 95 per cent of its stock in the bushfires, including 33 years of museum wines, although its vineyards (which are in Bendigo) and winery are safe. Blackjack Wines says the best way to support the company right now is to purchase directly from its website. The cellar door is also expected to reopen on Saturday January 24.

Woop Woop

Harcourt minigolf park and sculpture garden Woop Woop was forced to close after fires burnt the edge of the property. Owner Judy Gleeson says the best way to support is to visit Woop Woop.

Other ways to help

Victorian Farmers Federation Disaster Relief Takeover

CBD dive bar Hats & Tatts is hosting a fundraiser on Sunday February 15 from 4pm to 1am. Seven bars including Goodwater and New Gold Mountain will take over the Hats & Hatts bar with a special drink. All proceeds will be donated to The Victorian Farmers Federation Disaster Relief Fund.

Support affected winemakers at top restaurants

Restaurants including Al Dente Enoteca, Scopri, The Recreation, Vue de Monde, Eat Pierogi Make Love and more have drawn up special wine lists featuring producers impacted by the Harcourt fires. Order by the bottle or the glass to support them.

Drink Maidenii at Geminii

Coburg wine bar Gemini still has a few bottles of Maidenii Nocturne behind the bar. It’s pouring 60 millilitre shots for $35 and all proceeds will be donated to Maidenii’s Go Fund Me.

Past events

Pour It Forward at Gin Palace

CBD bar Gin Palace is hosting a fundraiser on Monday February 2, from 4pm to 3am. Gin Palace alums will take over the bar, with proceeds going to Maison Lapalus and Maidenii.

Hyphen Spaces market and raffle

On Saturday January 31 from midday to 6pm, Hyphen Spaces in Carlton North will host a market and raffle to raise funds for Sikh Volunteers Australia, which provides free meals and essential items to those in need. There’ll be products and baked goods donated by local artists, designers and makers as well as raffle prizes including a $150 tattoo voucher from Killa Killa Ink and an artwork from Ying Wang.

Rock & Ranges at The Victoria Hotel, Woodend

Macedon Ranges brewing co-op Rock & Ranges, which lost all of its stock to fires, is hosting a fundraiser at The Victoria Hotel in Woodend this Sunday, January 18, from midday to support people impacted by the Harcourt fires. There’ll be drinks from the Rock & Rangers kegs, raffles and auctions.

600 Above

Woodend wine bar 600 Above will donate 20 per cent of sales from Saturday January 19 to the Harcourt community.

Nat Thaipun at The Evelyn Market

Masterchef winner Nat Thaipun will be at The Evelyn Hotel’s Evelyn Market in Fitzroy this Saturday, January 17, from 10am to 4pm. She’s selling clothes and copies of her cookbook, Thai: Anywhere and Everywhere, with 50 per cent of profits donated to help support communities impacted by the fires.

Bibi Ji and Horn Please

Carlton restaurant Bibi Ji and Fitzroy North’s Horn Please will donate $1 from every pot of curry sold to relief efforts.