Farming town grows community crop to buy local pub

30 June 2015

With more pressure on small rural towns to survive, one community in Western Australia is fighting back. Three years ago a group of farmers in Nyabing, about 330km south-east of Perth, had the opportunity to buy into a share farm. After two successful seasons the group that manages the crop, the Nyabing Progress Association, was able to the town pub, the Nyabing Inn.

Nyabing Progress Association vice president Fiona Martin said the group was now focussed on a future cropping program to fund the restoration of the pub. “There are some immediate works in terms of accommodation and the dining and meals area,” she said. “And above and beyond that we’re looking at splitting the project into accommodation and a new community hub.”

Ms Martin said the community crop and the purchase of the pub was focussed on reinvigorating the town and making it a place young families wanted to live. “We want our town to thrive.”

In small communities it is important to have a place to meet and socialise, particularly to combat feelings of work stress, financial pressure and isolation that comes with farming and this proves that communities coming together with innovative ideas can help their area prosper in areas other than simple economics.