11th February, 2026
A question we are hearing at times is this: “It’s all very well to fundraise to buy the Market, but what about the ongoing costs? Will the community be fundraising forever just to keep it operating?”
It’s a fair question. And the answer is simple: no.
The Old Packhouse Market is not an empty building waiting to be filled. It is an established, functioning, revenue-generating business. It operates successfully today, and our intention is to take it over as a going concern. That means stallholder rents, commercial leases, and regular market activity continue to underpin the operation from day one.
Independent economic analysis shows the Market already supports approximately $7.4 million in regional economic activity and up to 155 jobs. That is the current position, before any of the additional initiatives we plan to introduce.
This project is fundamentally different from building new infrastructure and then trying to cover the bills afterward. We are securing an asset that already works.
Our fundraising campaign is focused on capital acquisition; placing the property into community ownership. Once purchased, the Market continues operating as it does now, with disciplined governance and prudent financial management supported by a dedicated Board of Directors and a qualified and experienced General Manager.
Future fundraising, if undertaken, will support new initiatives and expanded community benefit. It will not be required to prop up day-to-day operations.
We understand that communities can feel cautious when past projects have required ongoing financial support beyond what was first anticipated. That experience has informed our approach. Financial sustainability is not an assumption; it has been central to our due diligence from the beginning.
This is about protecting a proven community asset and ensuring it remains vibrant and financially responsible, combining heart and head, community ownership with commercial discipline, and a sustainable model from the very beginning.
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