Dareton shops come alive

FOR the first time in decades, all eight shop fronts in Dareton’s Tapio Street complex are occupied.

It’s a far cry from six years ago, when the main street was described as a ghost town by local business owners, as Dareton grappled with an enduring commercial real estate glut.

Many of the shops were “dilapidated” and near “untenantable”, Coomealla Club president Daryl Wescombe said.

“One of the shops we walked into to have a look at, there was probably two feet of pigeon poo in one corner,” he said.

“They were just pigeon roosts really, which is no wonder why nobody ever wanted to go in and use these as shops.”

Feeling compelled to take action, the Coomealla Club began to enter negotiations with the landlord about three years ago, to take on the titles of any available shop fronts.

“What’s the good having a state-of-the-art club in town when the town is dying around you?” Mr Wescombe asked.

“We just thought – we’re not dying; we just need the right facilities for people to go into.”

Eventually striking a deal, the Coomealla Club bought six of the shop fronts, which they then had completely stripped out and refitted to bring them up to date.

The venture cost about $1.5 million, and all available leases were signed shortly after they became available.

Mr Wescombe is not alone in thinking its made a wonderful difference to the town.

“There’s proof in the pudding,” said Wentworth & District Real Estate director and current Shire councillor Tim Elstone.

“The town will continue to develop if someone is prepared to have investment in it.

“If you can get them looking right, as the club has done, they’re tenanted straightaway.

“It’s a great outcome.”

Mallee Accommodation & Support Program took up two of the shop front spaces, shifting from a residential home in Millie Street to a purpose-built office space in the town’s main street in July.

It is allowing MASP to expand its footprint in far west NSW and foot traffic has already increased due to its prominent location.

“We’re just so grateful for the support from the Coomie Club,” manager of homelessness support Trevor Gibbs said.

“We couldn’t have done it by ourselves, being a not-for-profit organisation, so it’s very much appreciated.”

Sunraysia Cancer Resources moved in next door – the former Vinnies op shop location – starting up their own op shop named The Purple Patch in August.

Volunteer helper Jan Blair said having the shop fronts transformed and occupied was a relief for the town.

“It’s nice to create a bit more activity in the street,” Ms Blair said.

“For many, many years its been shocking, they’ve been deteriorated and it made our town look just so terrible

“You could come to the supermarket but you had nowhere else to go apart from the chemist shop, it was really bad.”

Two weeks ago Janine Clayton moved in to the final vacant shop front – establishing her own business, Coomealla Grown & Sewn.

Specialising in local produce, juice and barista-made coffee, it’s an extension of her usual presence at the farmer’s markets in Port Fairy and Warrnambool.

“The community support has been fantastic, it’s just amazing how many people come in and say hello and have a coffee,” Ms Clayton said.

“Since the opportunity came we had to take it because it might not come up again.”