By Ashleigh Fielding | posted on January 24, 2020
THE first official steps towards revitalising the historic Broomehill Hotel have been taken and now, its future will depend on the community digging deep.
The hotel closed down in May last year due to “bad management”, leaving a trail of public outcry over yet another service closing off to residents – at the time, the town’s sole roadhouse had just closed down and the post office was up for sale.
Farmer Scott Thompson told the Weekender this week that the group of community members who initially got together late last year to pursue the hotel revitalisation project had decided to form a non-distributing co-operative.
A non-distributing co-op is defined as a “not-for-profit organisation which can be formed with or without shares”.
Mr Thompson said this co-op would have shares, and that hotel project committee members would soon be reaching out to individuals in the community to ask whether they would be interested in a financial contribution.
“It’s quite a process,” he said.
“We’re yet to form the co-op so that will probably happen over the next two weeks – the co-op will provide the ownership structure that will give us the flexibility and opportunity to do what we want to do.”
Purchasing the hotel site is also next on the agenda; Mr Thompson said expressions of interest were being sought from community members willing to chip in.
People interested in getting involved in bringing the Broomehill Hotel back to life can reach out to Mr Thompson on 0428 916 131.
