Precinct looks ahead for new peaks
It was only days before a national COVID-19 lockdown that three Halls Gap businesses opened their doors for the first time.
Little did the business owners suspect that the timing of the opening would correspond with a dramatic change in socio-economic circumstances.
Carly and Richard Flecknoe had finalised ‘The Peaks Precinct’, a collaborative retail hub, in March, following three years of planning and building.
The couple built the precinct to strengthen high-end retail opportunities in the ever-growing tourist destination in the Grampians.
The precinct features three tenancy spaces, running alongside the Flecknoes’ main business, Harvest Halls Gap café.
Mrs Flecknoe’s clothing and accessory store Dot and Frankie operates alongside tenants Grampians Wine Cellar, operated by Simon Freeman, and Karen Russ’s Russ Studios.
The business owners have pinned hopes their enterprises can bounce back during September school holidays now that Melbourne, their key market, is enduring another six weeks of stage-three COVID-19 lockdowns.
“The idea behind the retail space was to create a premium shopping experience in Halls Gap,” Mrs Flecknoe said.
“It was probably a three-year journey from concept through to the end of the build.
“For everything to open and then close three days after opening was heart-breaking.”
In response, the businesses took a targeted approach, moving sales online or focusing on home-delivering their products during the height of the pandemic.
Mrs Flecknoe, also a primary driver of Halls Gap’s annual Grampians Music Festival, said she anticipated, while restrictions ramped up in the state’s capital, more regional travellers would visit Halls Gap.
“We’re likely only going to see day-trippers from Horsham, Warrnambool or even Ballarat,” she said.
“That means we really have to be realistic about foot traffic and what opportunities we can make out of that.”
Showcase
Wine aficionado Simon Freeman arrived in Halls Gap with hopes to bring the taste of the Grampians together in one shop.
His shop supplies wines from Wimmera, Grampians and Pyrenees regional producers and makers, alongside some international brands.
“The idea is to have a place where the locals and visitors can discover the wines of the Grampians,” Mr Freeman said.
“A lot of people come to Halls Gap and can miss out on those aspects.
“I wanted to be able to showcase those wines and give a chance to smaller producers who don’t have cellar doors.”
Mr Freeman said he remained hopeful he could push through the extended lockdown period.
“It was a bit of a blow – I’ve had to diversify the shop a little bit,” he said.
“Winter will probably continue to be quiet. Hopefully by the time the weather gets warmer we’ll see more people in the town.”
Day to day
Russ Studio business owner Karen Russ also manages jewellery-manufacturing business Gold ’n Silver Mine at St Arnaud.
Mrs Russ said when she opened her new business in March, she hoped to take advantage of a booming Grampians tourism market.
“We had the dream to expand, so we started looking for a place to set up shop in Halls Gap,” she said.
“When these places were proposed we signed right up.”
Restrictions forced Mrs Russ to move more of her business online during the pandemic and refocus efforts at St Arnaud.
“The St Arnaud shop has been slowly picking up, but because we’re new here, we’re still getting our name out,” she said. “It’s a day-by-day process – you have to keep looking beyond coronavirus and keep remembering why we set up here to begin with.”
The Flecknoes are also transitioning their café into a wood-fire Neapolitan-styled pizzeria that can provide take-away meals to adapt to a changing hospitality sector.
“We’re really focusing on local produce as much as possible to be able to promote the region,” Mrs Flecknoe said.