Facing the loss of their treasured local, the people of the town of Grong Grong have raised over a million dollars to form a cooperative and buy it themselves.
Grong Grong is a small town in the NSW Riverina, east of Narrandera. Its Aboriginal name regrettably translates as “very bad camping ground”.
Its Royal Hotel, found just off the Newell Highway, was established in 1875. The current structure was built in 1923, in the InterWar architectural style.
Ted and Kay Obudzinski bought the pub in 1993, and after more than two decades behind the wheel, listed it for sale mid-2019.
However, finding little interest with buyers throughout the pandemic, the pub faced closure. That’s when local resident Gemma Purcell and friends formed a plan to save it.
They felt the risk of ownership could be managed by a cooperative, and set about trying to raise $500k, offering minimum shareholdings of $5k.
The response was far greater than they anticipated, attracting a total of 169 shareholders – mostly locals – pooling over $1 million.
The new owners have put up both cash and personal time, working together to spruce up the place prior to reopening.
Typical investors include Adam Ferguson, local grain grower and sheep producer, who wants to make sure the pub stays open as it’s “good for everyone’s mental health”. And teetotaller Lorraine Gawne, who sees it as of tremendous value to the community, fearing if the pub closed “Grongy is dead”.
Purcell is excited about the venture, and hopes their work might serve as a model for other small communities similarly fighting rural infrastructure decline.
“I think at a community level you have to back yourself, not be frightened to do it and don’t expect anyone else to do it for you,” she told the ABC.
