Cumnock community pitches in to save its general store

After three uncertain years, Cumnock’s General Store has new owners — its own customers!

More than just “a shop”, the heritage-listed General Store has been the heart of the small township since it was founded more than 140 years ago in 1882. In recent years, it has fulfilled multiple needs for the community, serving as a post office, hardware store, petrol station and cafe — a one-stop shop for a cup of coffee, a great feed and a friendly chat.

But after long-time owners Peg and Paula Rudd put the business on the market, looking to move on to their next chapter in their lives, the future of the store was in doubt.

For two years, this vital community business sat on the market until a group of dedicated locals decided they’d take matters into their own hands.

“We’re a community where we have a lot of elderly people, young families — people who are just so reliant on it. We don’t have a pub, we don't really have any other meeting places,” Cumnock local Sarah Haynes said.

“We thought if we could get everyone involved, we should be able to ensure that this will be sustained for future generations.”

Sarah is a member of Cumnock’s Long White Lunch committee, a group who’ve worked tirelessly over the years to raise money for community causes with their annual luncheon. The committee decided to come up with a plan to buy the store as a community-owned asset. They set about asking residents to contribute $1000 for a “membership” in the business, with a goal of raising $160,000 by May 2023.

“In the end, I think we had over 180 memberships… which is great!” Sarah said.

Contracts have now been signed and settlement should be complete by October, if all goes to plan, she added.

Sarah said the store plays such an important role in the life of the town that its loss would have been unthinkable.

“Not only is it providing services to our community, it’s also just as much a wellbeing thing for our community,” she explained.

Going forward, the newly formed General Store Cumnock committee has big plans for the town’s historic store, which will now be operated as a not-for-profit community-owned business.

In time, Sarah said the committee are hoping to expand the services of the General Store,  but rest assured it will remain the heart of the Cumnock community.

“Not only do we want to maintain what it’s already doing, but we really want to make it a destination. We want to make it a place where people want to work, and to create opportunities for younger generations,” Sarah said. 

The General Store Cumnock committee are currently on the lookout for a new store manager, with expressions of interest in the position closing on July 31.

www.thegeneralstorecumnock.com.au