General News
15 May, 2024
Main Street: Business driving growth confidence
BOOM town trends have Bridgewater businesses making firm plans for future growth. Two of the Calder Gateway town’s popular businesses have announced projects they say will enhance Bridgewater’s envied tourist destination reputation. And in...
BOOM town trends have Bridgewater businesses making firm plans for future growth.
Two of the Calder Gateway town’s popular businesses have announced projects they say will enhance Bridgewater’s envied tourist destination reputation.
And in a further sign of confidence, a hairdressing salon will open soon in the town’s former general store and newsagency last used as a motorcycle display shop but closed for more than six years.
The boost to business investment comes as civil works have started on the Loddon Shire’s first major housing estate Bridgewater Rise and new owners have taken over the town’s post office run for three years by a local consortium that staved off closure of the service.
Bridgewater Hotel’s Virginia Hyland and Greg McKinley this week become owners of the historic post office residence.
They plan to renovate the Victorian-era building and convert it to accommodation.
“Every week we get seven calls from people asking about accommodation, even in the middle of winter,” said Viriginia.
“New accommodation will be a further boost to the reputation of destination Bridgewater,” she said.
“Businesses are putting a lot of energy into Bridgewater.”
Bianca Rothacker’s Bridgewater Nursery has added to the town’s destination reputation since opening three years ago. Last week Bianca took ownership of the former butcher’s shop that has been used as a local produce and arts store.
Sold with a planning permit granted last year by Loddon Shire for a small cafe, Bianca said the shop would be used as an additional display area for the recently-opened indoor gift centre while cafe plans were developed.
“We’re looking to the boom in the near future. It’s happening very fast and unlike some country towns, we’re bucking the trend, reinvigorating and coming alive,” Bianca said.
She said people were travelling up to two hours to buy at Bridgewater businesses. “People are coming to the bakery, the nursery, the hotel.”
Across from the heritage garage that houses the nursery shopfront, Amanda Goodman is seeing the final stages of renovation before opening her hairdressing salon.
The construction of the first homes in stage one of Bridgewater Rise estate could start before Christmas.
The boom confidence is also being driven by increased visitation to the Loddon River town with Bridgewater Caravan Park lessee Kristy Hourigan saying bookings were up almost 40 per cent on recent averages.
Some Bridgewater residents have already flagged the need to reduce Main Street’s speed limit to 40kmh after similar zones were introduced in Inglewood and Wedderburn.
They also say the town’s growing population and rising traffic numbers call for better parking management in Main Street.
Bianca said: “The future is looking bright in Bridgewater. There’s a real momentum to be an entry showpiece to the Loddon Shire.”
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