ENTREPRENEURS in a tiny rural community in north-western NSW hope an opportunity shop, new laundry and fresh herbs for cooking will entice grey nomads to their budding business.
Coolatai has a population of 35 so walk-in traffic is pretty limited.
Kelly Jones and business partner Jacqui Lenard wondered how they could set themselves up as a financially sustainable business, with no budget, in the middle of nowhere, with no walk-by traffic.
The answer? Hotel Lane, Coolatai – and it’s fast becoming a tourist attraction.
The old stables on the property have now opened as an op shop that ticks all the pair’s philosophical reasons for startingHotel Lane: it extends the working life of goods by finding new owners, which in turn keeps stuff out of landfill.
Hotel Lane is a one-hectare venue boasting an outdoor kitchen, stage, playground, Airbnb accommodation, petting pen, classroom, fresh produce and now the op shop.
“We are hoping to attract two major markets: caravanners and op shoppers or money-conscious or sustainable shoppers – anti-landfill people,” Kelly said.
“It’s our answer to the disposable consumer culture we live in. Very little goes to waste. If we can’t sell it, we reclaim it, reuse it.’’
The property offers much for the casual wanderer. The mini-laundry was built from donated and found materials, because that’s they way they do it in Hotel Lane, a smart, groovy innovative market that brings out the cool in Coolatai.
If you go...
COOLATAI is about an hour’s drive from Inverell and about 11⁄2 hours from Moree via the Gwydir Highway.
Hotel Lane, phone Kelly Jones on 0409-774-846 or Jacqui Lenard on 0447-804-228, Facebook: hotellaneopshop
