Morris Bakery in Naracoorte closes as former employee accused of embezzling $300,000 from country bakery

A beloved Naracoorte bakery closed suddenly after a former employee allegedly embezzled more than $300,000, it’s been revealed.

End of an era: Naracoorte's iconic Morris and Sons Bakery has closed its doors after more than 80 years. Picture: Jessica Dempster.

A beloved country bakery was forced to close after a former employee allegedly embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from the business, a director of the company has told a liquidator.

WT Morris & Sons Bakery, better known to locals as Morris Bakery, closed its doors for good last Monday, with seemingly no warning for its loyal customers.

A staple in the Naracoorte community since its establishment in 1946, many locals were saddened by the business’s demise, with people reminiscing on social media about the bakery’s prime before a decline in quality, lack of foot traffic and increased competition led to its eventual collapse.

Allegations of embezzlement are at the centre of the closure. Picture: Jessica Dempster.

However, while most people seemed satisfied writing off the bakery’s closure as a sad “sign of the times” in a post-Covid world amid a brutal cost-of-living crisis and a dying main street, a liquidator has revealed allegations of embezzlement are at the centre of its demise.

Tarquin Koch was appointed liquidator of the business by a Federal Court order on February 2 over a $9813 debt.

Mr Koch said he made an urgent assessment of the business on February 5, resulting in its immediate closure.

“The director of the company alleges a former employee embezzled circa $300K from the business, which he attributes to the businesses demise,” Mr Koch told The Advertiser.

“The director advised he has made a police report and an investigation is underway. We are currently seeking confirmation from the police.”

A SAPOL spokesperson confirmed a report had previously been made to police relating to an allegation of deception at a bakery at Naracoorte.

Naracoorte's Morris Bakery has closed down abruptly. Picture: Jessica Dempster

The matter is still under investigation, the said.

Mr Koch said the amount of debt and the number of creditors were still being investigated by his agency as it examined the bakery’s.

The property, lease, plant and all equipment is now for sale by Jason Malseed of Malseeds Real Estate, Mount Gambier, who is assisting Mr Koch in facilitating the sale.

The closure of Morris Bakery means another shopfront along Naracoorte’s once bustling Smith Street now sits empty along with six others.

Following the bakery’s closure, Naracoorte locals and passersthrough will now have to get their pastry fix from the town’s other (and newest bakery) The Bake House Naracoorte, on Ormerod Street.