Mini OT survey.....well maybe not OT
Submitted: Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:09
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Member - Kim M (VIC)
I've been doing a bit of work over the last couple of year attempting to rejuvenate a coastal village. Bring it back to what it was in a modern clime so to speak.
A prime site has become available and I'm attempting to talk a fella into developing it. The town has high through traffic but not much to stop the tourist (apart from a
well used
toilet block).
We were kidding around at a meeting the other day and I suggested something akin to
Craig's Hut, but with a marine theme over looking the water. Blank stares from the council audience!
Question, if you were touring around the country and saw something that stopped you in your tracks, would you take the time to visit it?
For example, I always stop in at
Daly Waters for a beer and a bit of a chat because it's interesting and has atmosphere.
The site would be rustic and have bush tones (possibly slab built) and incorporate a hot bread kitchen, in door dining, stuff shirlas like to buy and a Al Fresco area in keeping with the theme.
If anyone has expiecence in slab construction send me a MM. Particularly splitting.
Like to hear your thoughts and suggestions.
Don't give me a hard time fellas, this is a pretty good community I'm working with and we're acheived a lot.
Regards
Kim
Reply By: Footloose - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:23
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:23
How far is it from St Elsewhere ? Do I need to fill up myself, the car or stop to go toodaloo ?
Is there something unique about the place on an easy to read sign on a main road ?
Is it a picturesqe setting ?
Is it neat and tidy?
Does it look welcoming , or are there bikie gangs etc lounging around ?
Is there something I can take a unique picture of ?
Is there anything of interest there to the kids ?
Are the locals friendly or is it just a matter of "give uz yer wallet and nick orf "
Is there a brawl going on? ( sorry mate, just had to put that in :))
Just a few quick ideas on what makes me stop at a place.
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Follow Up By: Footloose - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:30
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:30
Hey Kim, do ya change in a phone box?
Pretty impressive stuff...bushman...caped crusader...
heritage restorer.....and no doubt wait, there's more !
Seriously, keep up the good work :))
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:36
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:36
keep taking the tablets Footie, maybe UP THE DOSE a bit hahahaha
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Follow Up By: Member - Fred G (NSW) - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:37
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:37
Hey Kim, what Footy said, asked all my Q's, bugger. Cut us in on the action, man, where are we talking about. You didn't get a harder knock on the mellon than you let on the other night did you??? :-))
Good work old son, hope you get rich and famous, (and learn when to duck and not weave) real soon.
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Follow Up By: Footloose - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:43
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:43
Bonz, now don't you worry ol son. I'll have a description of your talents on here shortly...unless you cross my palm with silver of course !
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Follow Up By: Member - Kim M (VIC) - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:53
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:53
Footy
Your a bloody dill. Fair dinkum mate. God I'm missing hairy! LOL.
Regards
Kim
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:53
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:53
WOOHOO Thank goodness someone has a description I never know what I get upto
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Follow Up By: Footloose - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 22:00
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 22:00
Kim, to know me is to love me :))
Dill indeedie ! Just you wait till Hairy comes back and starts whinging about the locals again !
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Follow Up By: Footloose - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 22:08
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 22:08
Bonz, that cat in your members pix looks like it's seen Willem coming!
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Follow Up By: Member - Kim M (VIC) - Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 21:59
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 21:59
Footy
He's gone down to the Pilbura. Probably come back as a Priest...!
Then again, that's no change. LOL
Regards
Kim
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Follow Up By: Footloose - Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 22:14
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 22:14
Priest ? Or as a nun ? LOL
The Pilbera is just a tad warm at the moment, I hope he's finding lots of gold or something that makes the trip worthwhile.
Church of Hairy...its got a ring to it...maybe marketable....no land or property taxes...hmm...chasing around for a specimen to sacrifice...oh dear my mind's wandering again. 40 days and nights in the desert, not the Pilbera.
Ok I give up. Why would he come back as a priest ? :))))
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Follow Up By: Member - Kim M (VIC) - Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 22:34
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 22:34
Footy
Because he can ya Dill. LOL
Are you copping that rain?
Regards
Kim
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Follow Up By: Footloose - Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 22:40
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 22:40
Kim, not the rough stuff up north. We've had rain every day since Xmas here. Rains o/n, the showers during day and 98% humidity in between. Fair dinkum, its enough to drive a man to lawnmowing...but its too wet (all together now, Ohhhhh! :))
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Reply By: Kev & Darkie - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:24
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:24
Kim,
I have found that the best way to get slabs for that type of construction is to use a Lucas Mill. It is man portable and comes in a couple of sizes.
Lucas Mill, the portable saw mill For what you get they are a pretty cheap piece of machinery.
If I could find somewhere to store one I'd buy one in a flash.
Cheers Kev
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Follow Up By: Member - Fred G (NSW) - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:40
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:40
Kev, forever a business man... :-))
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Follow Up By: Trevor R (QLD) - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:49
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:49
To Kev and Kim,
The B_I_L has one of these Lucas Mills and cuts big slabs for all sorts of jobs including the front desk at one of the flash hotels in Pt Macquarie. He's just down the road from you Kev in Telegraph Point (Pt Macq region). If you get stuck drop me a line and I will get him to give you all a bell, whether he can slab stuff up for you or offer advise I am sure he would be willing, given the time. I think his mill slabs up to 5 ft wide????
Cheers, Trevor.
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Follow Up By: Kev & Darkie - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:50
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:50
Fred,
The Army has only had them for a few years and they are a hell of a lot better than the old heavy VW motor driven ones :))
The "Milky Bar Kid" may find the info useful
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Follow Up By: Kev & Darkie - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:51
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:51
Trevor,
It is only down my way for another week LOL then you will be closer
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Follow Up By: Member - Kim M (VIC) - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 22:17
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 22:17
Kev
Thanks for that.
Did a bit of research and found nothing. We might go up to
Mansfield and around Benamba and have a bit of talk to the locals.
Regards
Kim
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Reply By: equinox - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:26
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:26
Do we get to drink the slabs first?
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Follow Up By: Member - Fred G (NSW) - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:43
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:43
Now we're talking :-)) hic
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Reply By: Member - Fred G (NSW) - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 22:14
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 22:14
Suddenly dawned on me Kim...Are we taliking about
Melbourne..?????
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Follow Up By: Member - Kim M (VIC) - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 22:57
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 22:57
Fred
Country people need a bit of help in putting things together.
We've acheived a lot, and all I'm asking for is ideas.
If a bunch of dills want to stuff up the the post, then so be it.
Kim
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Reply By: MattyM - Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 09:13
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 09:13
Kim,
There is a
slab hut in Orbost in eastern Vic that is used as the visitor info centre. It has been there for years & I think it was built by the local community. It might be woth a look if you're travelling down that way. If you google Orbost
slab hut you can find a few pics.
Hope this helps
Cheers
Matty
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Reply By: HGMonaro - Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 10:12
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 10:12
Everytime drive thru Yarragon on the way to my mothers at Morwell, I'm amazed at the number of vehicles stopped to sample the cheese and whatever else that they offer... they must be doing something right.
If I'm driving 'somewhere' I don't stop for much... a nice
scone maybe! So, location would be a big issue... is it near somewhere people would be day-tripping and likely to stop for lunch.
Daly Waters is a bad example since that is the destination for most people.
Nige.
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Reply By: Robin Miller - Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 15:10
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 15:10
Hi Kim
Don't think I'd stop easily for something like you suggest but
I have watched with interest a similar success story take place
in Victorias most isolated village which is close to
Melbourne and even has a remote area school.
I have taken particular interest because I almost brought it once.
If you don't know it then for your research I suggest that next time you head towards
Mansfield that you take a slight detour to the Ruffy produce store.
In 18 months this has gone from nowhere for the "retirees" that now run it to having them wish it was less successful.
It just has local produce and nick nacks for sale and supplies light meals and cappicino's etc but only opens weekends.
We took our 4wd club there once and now many car clubs have it as a touring circuit with this stop in the middle, and you now are wise to book ahead just to ensure you can get a coffee and they refuse to sell ice-creams etc for kids just to help discourage low budget tourists and keep their up-market image amongst the cow paddocks.
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Follow Up By: Member - Kim M (VIC) - Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 19:43
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 19:43
Matty, Nige, and Robin
Matty...I'd completely forgotten about the visitors centre in Orbost (know it well). I'll be visiting some mates down at Nowa Nowa, and I'll ask them if they know who built it.
Nige...Believe it or not, we're using Yarragon as a model. They've done a great job in rejuvenating a small country town. I'm taking a group of retailers and tourism types down there in March to show them what can be done.
Robin... Ruffy, Strathbogie and Boho use to be an old stomping ground. We took a lot of wattle bark out of that area in the late 50's. Do you have a photograph of the Ruffy store and the owners contact details?
Fellas, thanks for your help. Much appreciated.
Regards
Kim
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Reply By: Member - Kevin J (QLD) - Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 21:08
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 21:08
Kim,
Not trying to tell you how to suck eggs but have had some experience in this field.
While the
slab hut idea has merit I would think it is more important what you do with it.
Have you done a SWOT analysis to establish what is unique about your project town. eg
Stanthorpe in
Queensland has the reputation for the coldest place in
Queensland so they play heavily on the Brass Monkey theme in winter. There are hundreds of other examples.
Tourists stopping for a toilet break means that you are already half way there since they are now stopped. What you do to keep them stopped is the other issue.
Best of luck
Kevin J
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