The benefits that offering a free camping area can bring to small towns – especially during tough economic times – have been perfectly illustrated by Panmure in Victoria’s north west.
Locals say the grey nomads and other travellers who set up along the Mount Emu Creek have given a real boost to businesses that have been ravaged by the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
Commercial Hotel Panmure owner, Annie Lenehan, told the Warrnambool Standard that the tourists had created a buzz in the town following a long period in which the pub had depended solely on locals to stay afloat.
“In the first lockdown I was asking my partner what we were going to do and he said it would be too hard to re-open,” she said. “We worked through it, adjusted our hours and we were really supported by our locals with takeaway meals and alcohol … the locals were fantastic but we were still down about 70-80% of our usual takings.”
Having then survived the second lockdown and used the ‘downtime’ to carry out some renovations, Ms Lenehan is optimistic for 2021.
“We had a chap call us up and say he was coming through on Thursday,” she said. “I directed him to the free camping spot and told him he’d better get down by 4pm because that’s when it starts filling up every day.”
She says the Panmure free campsite has been enjoying a flurry of visitors eager to get out and explore after lockdown. The Standard says grey nomads, young couples and groups of friends are the usual occupants of the site which boasts toilets and a barbecue area, as well as access to the river. Pets are also allowed.
“At the moment we’re sailing through and starting to tweak our business a bit,” said Ms Lenehan. “It’s going really well, but we’re still very vigilant about what could happen.”
Yes, it’s a lovely area and nice little pub in Panmure, ‘South West’ Victoria.
Shame a lot more places don’t do the same.
Well done.
Well there you go.
Free camp even low cost = more money spent in an area/township and people stay longer.
Proof is proof
Win win!
Great to see the appreciation recognised to what some councils are too ignorant to see in other places.
We totally agree. Where there are free campsites we spend our money!! Wake up Councils. Can’t wait to be able to cross the border.
Reports on multiple sites now (2022 Oct) say “no camping” signs are up. I’ve tried contacting the pub via both Facebook and Email for the latest but no reply. 🙁