Last week’s sale of Bourke’s abattoir to global company Thomas Foods International (TFI) was met with smiles from the local community, happy to see the major meatworks project back in action. 

The small animal abattoir was put on the market in June last year after its closure in May 2019, just five months after its opening. The $60 million abattoir brought hope of jobs and business to the community at no small cost, yet like many other businesses, fell victim to the ongoing drought. 

Bourke Shire Council Mayor Barry Hollman said that the renewed interest in Bourke’s abattoir site is more than welcome. 

“After two years of covid, you couldn’t ask for anything better. Potentially, it’s life changing for Bourke. We’re excited for it,” Mayor Hollman said.

The abattoir that has sat empty for the past two years was the result of a $10 million investment from the Federal Government, and a further $10 million from Bourke Shire Council. 

“The last time our town was very wealthy was when the old meatworks used to operate. So when we had people that wanted to come and build a new state of the art meatworks, we grasped it with both hands,” he said. 

“Unbeknown to us, we thought we were coming out of a drought, but we were actually going further into it. Goats became scarce, water became scarce.”

Announced last Wednesday, the abattoir was bought from Darling River Goat Exports by TFI for an undisclosed amount, after sitting on the market for almost two years. 

The facility will remain solely for the processing of goats and the company is expecting to employ 120 new staff in the operation which is projected to open by mid-2022.

“In a small community of three thousand people, if you can come up with 120 jobs it really does a lot for your town,” Mayor Hollman said. 

While various industries – particularly agriculture – have been experiencing a staffing recruitment crisis across the Western Plains, Mayor Hollman is confident that the reputation of TFI will assist in overcoming this issue. 

“We’re hopeful that people will grasp (the opportunity). We might even get some new people that come to town looking for employment, and we would make them most welcome here,” he said. 

The closure of the abattoir in 2019 was ‘devastating’ for the Bourke community, with around eighty people being made redundant. The enduring drought only worsened the impact.

With two consecutive years of strong seasons and communities optimistic about the future, there is hope for the abattoir’s second chance of success. 

“I’m sure they’ve done their sums,” Mayor Hollman said.

“To be bought by Thomas Foods International who are known all over the world and to think that they would come and invest that sort of money in our town, it’s a great thing for the town.”