farmers Revive rural Pub, becoming community Lifeline in Bemboka, NSW
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A family’s dedication to their community has breathed new life into a struggling rural pub, transforming it into a vital social hub for residents of Bemboka, New South Wales.After sitting on the market for nearly six months, the local pub – located approximately 500 kilometers south of Sydney – has been revitalized by farmers Karen and Rowan Alcock, who have simultaneously maintained their 526-hectare beef cattle farm. Rowan Alcock noted the pub is experiencing its busiest period in three decades.
A Community’s Last Stand
The small town of Bemboka, home to roughly 600 people, faced the prospect of losing its only pub, with the next closest establishment located 35 kilometers away in Bega. Locals feared the pub woudl remain closed indefinitely until the Alcocks stepped in. “This community needs this. Do we need it? Probably not. But let’s just give it a crack and see how we go,” Ms. Alcock explained, encapsulating the family’s pragmatic yet hopeful approach. The question, as many residents see it, is simple: “What’s a town without a pub?”
Juggling Farm Life and Hospitality
Taking on the pub has significantly increased the workload for the Alcocks. “There’s a lot of catching up to do as that pub has eaten a hell of a lot of time,” Mr. Alcock stated. Ms. Alcock added that, “Over the last three months, we’ve spent very little time here on the property,” focusing on “absolute essential tasks.” She described the pub’s atmosphere as unpretentious and welcoming, stating, “It’s not about fancy cocktails; it is indeed or what the footy’s doing. They don’t have to spend a fortune, but they have a coffee, or a beer, a glass of water and a yak.”
A Family Effort
The Alcocks aren’t alone in their endeavor. Their daughters,Tash and Jacinta,have returned home to assist. Tash, a 27-year-old agronomist, and her fiancé Sam are now full-time residents, contributing to both the farm and the pub. Tash recounted her initial skepticism, stating, “Mum always came up with the crazy idea that we’d buy a cafe or something in town and we all had the skids on. We were like, ‘No, we’re not doing that. It’s a terrible idea.’ But when it all came down to it, we thought we realy should do this. Sometimes I wonder whether we’ve lost the plot.” This sentiment is echoed by Karen and Rowan, who acknowledge the challenge but feel they are “in the groove a little bit more every day.”
Their other daughter, Jacinta, flew home from Darwin to help with the pub’s opening night. The 29-year-old expressed pride in her parents’ dedication to the town’s social life and combating isolation. “We’re 40 minutes from Bega,but it can feel a lot further away then that,” she explained. “You can very easily get isolated, very easily. Especially since COVID and during the bushfires, places like the pub were just integral.”
A modernized Gathering Place
Recognizing the need for a refreshed space, the Alcocks renovated the long-standing pub and added a cafe. Locals, like Jenny Anderson, have welcomed the expanded offerings. “Communities like this need to have somewhere to gather,” anderson said. “You don’t need to be a drinker, you might enjoy a good meal, you might enjoy a cup a coffee. And to be able to have that choice is really important in a community like this. To have a local farming community come in and rescue us all has been really great.” Another resident, Julie Ringland, described the pub’s reopening as a “lifesaver,” noting its welcoming atmosphere: “It’s just got a lovely vibe. If you walk into it, it’s home.”
The Alcocks’ story is a testament to the enduring spirit of rural communities and the power of local initiative, proving that sometimes, the most vital institutions are those rescued by the people they serve.
