With many rural towns doing it tough at the moment, the money brought into the local economy by visiting grey nomads is perhaps more important than ever … but there has to be a place for them to spend it!
For reasons ranging from the impact of Covid and an inability to attract staff, to soaring overheads and the rise of online shopping, many businesses in country towns are closing … and it’s changing ‘the vibe’.
Even in prosperous communities such as Scone in the NSW Hunter Valley, several pubs now stand empty, and there are ‘For Lease’ signs on the windows of unused stores in the main street.
And the closure of the long-established Target store a couple of years ago has left a gaping hole in the retail heart of the community.
Shops are standing empty in many country towns. PIC: Cizza
Indeed, the closure of scores of Country Target stores across the nation since 2020 has had a similar effect in numerous small towns.
And it’s not just department stores. One of the two grocery stores in the southwest Queensland town of Charleville recently closed its doors; the only café in the WA town of Guilderton has just shut; and worker shortages have contributed to the closure of three different food venues in the small town of Bridgetown in WA.
Similarly, doubts are being expressed about the viability of the generaI store in the tiny town of Cumnock in central western New South as the current owner struggles to find a buyer.
But really it’s not about one store here or there. It’s bigger than that.
And when you also consider the steady closure of country pubs, and the rapid withdrawal of banks from regional towns, it’s hard not to wonder what the wider impact on the social fabric of these communities will be … and how it will affect visitor numbers.
In Charleville, Murweh Shire Mayor Sean Radnedge, worries how just one supermarket will be able to cope with the tourist influx in peak season; and in Guilderton, the closure of the café sparked protests from locals who fear travellers will no longer choose to stop there.
On his Big Lap, Oliver Thomas, says that wandering along the historic streets of country towns checking out the shops and cafes was an integral – and pleasurable – part of the experience.
“Of course, it’s not the same if the shops are empty and the streets are deserted,” he said. “I guess whether or not I still choose to visit would depend on what else of interest the town has to offer.”
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Sign of the times . Sign of the times!!!! And there is a lot of pain to come yet. Dave.
Many residents of these smaller country towns choose to take a fortnightly trip to a nearby larger regional town to do their grocery shopping.
They also choose to shop for goods via the internet & get them delivered to their door.
A few dollars from nomads isn’t going to save these small businesses.