Hunt is on for Nyabing Inn publican

Looking for a new project? Nyabing might be the place for you.

The community’s Progress Association recently purchased the Nyabing Inn and is starting a nationwide search for someone to lease the building and help transform it into a community hub.

Committee member Christie Smith said the association had been looking to use money raised from previous community crops and this was a popular idea.

“This has been on the market for so long and we all knew that eventually it wasn’t going to sell — with the possibility of not having a pub, we sort of thought, why don’t we take it on?” she said.

Committee member Fiona Martin said the association wanted to “think big”.

“We thought, let’s not do something like a little street sign, let’s do something with a big and lasting impact on our community,” she said.

Association president Brad Filmer said the Nyabing Inn had the potential to be not just a pub and hotel but also provide a social outlet for the region.

“It’s the community meeting place so we want to dress it up to be what families want — that’s the main group that is using it,” he said.

“We want to revamp the accommodation, so there is an opening there for someone to come along (to provide) accommodation that people want to stay in.”

Mrs Martin said whoever took it on would have the Nyabing community helping out.

“We are going to build something around them … we want them to make money,” she said.

“They don’t have to spend the money; the community is going to back them.”

Funding from future community crops will also go towards the inn’s refurbishment and the association has completed a feasibility study with funding from the Great Southern Development Commission.

“Places like Nyabing shouldn’t decline,” Mr Filmer said.

“It’s a family-friendly place, it’s affordable; why wouldn’t people come and live here?” he said.

Email Mrs Smith at chad christie@bigpond.com.