For entrepreneurs like Shelby Tumes, the decision to start a business in a regional town like Broken Hill, located in the far western reaches of New South Wales, comes with both immense challenges and rewards.
After relocating from Adelaide, Tumes found limited opportunities to work in a barber shop and realized there was only one viable option: to start her own business. Despite the difficulties that come with operating in a remote area, including managing rising expenses and maintaining affordable prices for locals, Tumes views the decision as the best one she’s ever made.
“I had to open my own shop, as there weren’t many options available to work in an existing barber shop,” Tumes explained. After starting with a modest rented space, she quickly outgrew it and expanded into a larger location with more foot traffic. However, managing operating costs like rent while maintaining “country prices” has proved to be an ongoing challenge.
Similarly, Abigail Hughes, who initially operated a successful coffee van in Broken Hill, also faced hurdles when transitioning to a permanent retail space. After securing a location off the main street, Hughes aimed to provide a local coffee shop experience tailored to residents.
“I wanted to create a place where locals could feel at home, like their corner coffee shop,” Hughes said. However, the process of setting up her café was far from easy. Due to the town’s remoteness, acquiring materials and equipment proved difficult, often requiring her family to drive over three hours to Mildura for supplies or even as far as Adelaide.
Real estate agent Clifford Wren noted that while Broken Hill’s business district can be pricey, there are still affordable options for entrepreneurs willing to look beyond the main hub. Wren believes that small-scale business ventures—such as pie shops and fashion stores—can succeed, especially with property prices in the range of $150,000.
“Though some areas can be expensive, many properties are within reach for small business owners, especially when they have equity in their homes,” Wren said. However, obtaining a bank loan can still be a challenge. Wren explained that, over his two decades in commercial real estate, only about 30% of business loan applications were successful.
Paula Martin, executive director of Business NSW’s regional and visitor economy division, highlighted the persistent obstacles regional business owners face, including skyrocketing costs for starting a business, hiring staff, and covering insurance, energy, and operational expenses.
“Opening a business is costly,” Martin remarked. “In rural areas, these costs can be even higher, compounded by issues like transport expenses, skilled labor shortages, and difficulties accessing reliable internet or supply chains.”
Despite these challenges, Martin praised the resourcefulness of regional business owners. “They have to be more creative and innovative, ensuring customers can find them, get to them, and afford their products,” she noted.
Amanda Murray, who recently purchased The Broken Hill Bookshop with her husband, has also observed a strong sense of community among local business owners. “We support each other as much as possible,” Murray said. “Buying local whenever we can has become a part of the fabric of retail in Broken Hill.”
For entrepreneurs in Broken Hill and similar remote towns, the path to success may be filled with obstacles, but the spirit of innovation and collaboration continues to drive small businesses forward.
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