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Category: Regional / Small Business / Regional Development

Country residents buying pubs to keep their local meeting place going

Monday, 5 Dec 2016 06:37:37 | Benjamin Shuhyta And Verity Gorman

The Temora Hotel has reopened with local owners, after a 12-month closure. (ABC: Verity Gorman)

Faced with the prospect of a town with no beer, residents in several regional New South Wales towns have banded together to buy their local pub.

Industry commentators are seeing a rise in the number of first-time owners entering the pub trade.

Increasingly, it is locals who are buying in, to preserve their town's only meeting place.

The Conapaira Hotel is one such case, in the Southern NSW town of Rankins Springs.

Its only pub closed 18 months ago, prompting locals to buy in.

"It meant everything to the town, it was a meeting place for everyone to gather," new owner Stuart Vearing said.

"You didn't see anyone if the pub was shut. It was a very lonely place in Rankins Springs."

The town's Progress Association representative Julie Groat said the return of the pub was a lifeline for the town.

"Sometimes the farmers have got to get away, and so they come to the pub," she said.

"In a drought everyone's in the same boat, so they come here to just talk, and see what people are up to. The pub's so beneficial."

The outside of a country pub, with banners hanging from the top balcony Photo: The Conaipara Hotel at Rankins Springs reopened under local management, after its doors were shut for 18 months. (ABC: Verity Gorman)

New owner couldn't bear to see pub close

In the southern Riverina town of Henty residents were devastated to find out their only pub was closing.

Residents formed a committee to save the Doodle Cooma Arms.

Builder Josh Corrigan had never owned a pub, but could not bear to see it close.

"It was up for auction, and we were in hope that someone would come forward to purchase it," Mr Corrigan said.

"The message hit home that you could see the importance of the place, and the smiling faces. It was just a happy environment, and we didn't want to lose that.

"That's the key to a pub — a resting place for people to come and enjoy themselves."

Tradesman sits at the bar with another man in a blue shirt Photo: Builder-turned-publican Josh Corrigan chats with a local at the Doodle Cooma Arms. (ABC: Benjamin Shuhyta)

Real estate agents say pubs are the heart of rural communities and need the right operators to ensure community support.

Hotel broker Nick Tinning said he had seen a new wave of buyers enter the market.

"There's been a bit of a change in the industry of late. We're seeing people who have traditionally not been involved in the industry," Mr Tinning said.

"They're particularly looking for the smaller country hotels where they can gain a lifestyle and a business."

Hawthorn football player Luke Breust has just opened a pub in his home town of Temora.

He said it was his way to keep connected with his community.

"I felt like having something back here where I could connect to the community — just to have some sort of impact here was my goal."

The Temora Hotel reopened this month, ending a year-long closure.

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