Brewarrina, nestled in New South Wales’ north west near the Queensland border, has experienced some of the worst the last few years has had to offer, however the region is not in the clear yet and needs help.
When considering the struggles regional NSW communities have experienced in the last few years, we often think in the past tense. But for Muddy Waters Café, and the wider Brewarrina community it inhabits, they are as present today as they’ve ever been – so much so that when this interview was conducted in November 2022, Brewarrina was isolated by flooding.
Muddy Waters Café was taken on by husband and wife team, Belinda and John, in 2018 to as a test to see how a café would fare in the area despite them both having other full-time jobs.
Neither knew what the coming years would bring, nor the strength that they and their small town would display when faced with adversity.
The history of Muddy Waters Café
Muddy Waters Café has seen substantial growth and upsizing in a very short time – especially considering the hardships Belinda and John have faced during their ownership.
The site the café resides on was leased for 12 months from 2018–2019 as Belinda and John determined the business’ feasibility. Since then, it has grown despite lockdowns and floods.
“We purchased the site and building and since then we have purchased the block next door,” Belinda explains.
“In four years, we’ve renovated the kitchen making it more user-friendly, replaced the roof, build an office space, made improvements to the fit out and garden area and built an extension out the back that’s not quite finished.
“We’ve also expanded our business to offer giftware, local art and recently purchased two Airbnb units to go on the block next door. We hope to offer accommodation in 2023 when these bloody floods go down!”
How have recent years affected the business and town?
Belinda and John have taken various approaches to deal with the onslaught of issues their business and town have faced since 2020. The first COVID lockdown saw Muddy Waters Café operate as take-away only for six weeks, with the business closing its doors for seven weeks during the second.
“COVID was a nightmare for small business,” Belinda told us. “Just to put in perspective: I have to order food and perishables in advance to have them delivered in Brewarrina. I received my weekly food order at 8am on the morning it was announced at 10am that ‘eat-in’ cafes and restaurants would now only be able to provide take-away service.
“I had about $5,000 worth of stock I couldn’t move and needed additional stock to alter the menu to meet the new COVID rules. As a result, during the second COVID lock-down we opted to close – our isolation and access to suppliers meant that we couldn’t make changes and react faster enough with ordering to rule changes – we’d learnt our lesson.
“We were one of the lucky ones – we own our premises, we didn’t have huge overheads and our staff were in a position to support us – so we didn’t go under like some many others.”
In early 2021, the Kamilaroi Highway – the main arterial road in and out of town – was also closed, with Belinda and John opting not to re-open the café until mid-March.
How are things today?
The hardships of COVID, flood and fire on NSW’s regional areas can seem like faded memories to much of Australia, but the issues are as prevalent today as they have ever been.
“As I write this, in mid-November 2022, Brewarrina is experiencing isolation due to flooding with the expected peak in the river today,” Belinda explains.
“Our shop has been closed for the past three weeks as there is no travelling trade – opening only on Saturday mornings for the locals.
“Sometimes in business you need to make hard decisions – the decision to reduce Muddy Waters operating hours for the duration of the flood has not been easy – trying to balance a service and place for the community to go and business financial viability is no mean feat.
“Instead of trading normally, we’ve decided to be brave and make the decision to reduce hours ensuring we don’t fall into debt and manage to the best of our ability a situation that is entirely out of our control, so we can open the doors in 2023 when the environment is more supportive of travellers and our business.”
How can we help?
As with most regional NSW communities, the best way to help is to visit, stay and experience their local culture. Tourism and trade with road trippers is vital to many of these communities, as Belinda explains:
“Money will be tight in our community over the coming months as agriculture production has been affected. This will have a negative effect on the economic multiplier in our community, so tourism and visitors to our community become even more important to stimulate the local economy and keep our community financially afloat.
“Our business has gone from a couple- owned and operated business, to now employing 3.5 staff and the capacity to employ an additional three during the peak tourism season.
“We work in with other tourism operators such as the Brewarrina Aboriginal Museum and Beds on Barwon Caravan Park and ensure visitors are aware of some of the less publicised places of interest in Brewarrina. Come into Muddy Waters and ask the locals what there is to see!”
What do the locals recommend?
Friendliness is the primary thing Belinda believes sets Brewarrina apart from other towns.
“Because we’re small everyone knows each other and says “G’day”. Visitors are surprised at how friendly and helpful people are. Unfortunately in the early 1980’s Brewarrina developed a negative reputation with visitors – lots has changed in 40 years.
“Within 200 kms of Brewarrina, you can experience Aboriginal Fish Traps, Gundabooka Aboriginal rock art, two separate hot artesian bore baths, paddle steamers, Back O Bourke Outback Centre, Grawin and Glengarry Opal Fields.
“There’s also Lightning Ridge, home of the black opal, Jenny Greentree Art Gallery, John Murray Art Gallery, Mount Oxley jump-up, Macquarie Marshes and Narran Lakes – and if you get really adventurous you can inter-state to Hebel Queensland for a great pub meal!
“You probably haven’t heard about our little patch ([Brewarrina’s] marketing budgets are non-existent) but it punches above its weight!”
