Would You LIke A Share In A Local Country Pub?

The tiny village of Illabo, population 144, has offered the opportunity for you to have a stake in its vibrant country pub.

The Longhorn Hotel is under new management, but the community has formed the Illabo Co-Operative Limited to buy the Hotel, store, accommodation, Licensed Post Office and associated land and they have invited residents, regular visitors and supporters of the village to join them.

Chairperson of the Illabo Co-Operative, Fiona Hamilton said if this was the perfect opportunity to be involved in something exciting.

“It’s $5,000 a share to become a founding member of the Co-Operative and have a stake in the Hotel and businesses,” Ms Hamilton said.

“Interested parties can purchase as many shares as they like and how fun would it be to tell your mates, “I own a country pub” or have an excuse to spend time in rural NSW just visiting your pub.”

The small village serves a large surrounding farming community well known for its incredible spirit.

The Illabo Co-Operative Limited was launched last October with the sole focus of taking the community forward and ensuring a stable future by securing ownership of the village services.

From a population of around 150 in the village and perhaps a couple of hundred on surrounding farms, this vibrant group pull together hugely successful and entertaining events including:

• The Illabo Show (one of the biggest and truly best country shows in country NSW);
• A massive Camp Draft;
• The Vintage Motorsports Park meets held four times a year;
• The Illabo Long Lunch;
• The biannual Melodrama and the list goes on.

These events bring hundreds of people to the area every couple of months. Visitors rave about the community and many visit repeatedly.

Illabo is set in the most picturesque rural landscape on the burgeoning Canola Way, not far from the Junee Licorice Factory, Monte Cristo Historic Homestead (touted as Australia’s most haunted house), Junee Railway Roundhouse Museum, the Temora Aviation Museum, Bradman’s Cottage in Cootamundra, and the Coolamon Cheese Factory.

Ms Hamilton said the community has had to ride the highs and lows of hotel owners and managers, together with the uncertainty about the continuation of services over the years.

“The heartbeat of most small rural communities is most typically found within the local watering hole,” she said.

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