Birdsville Bakery Closed

Submitted: Tuesday, Jun 04, 2019 at 17:26

ThreadID: 138464 Views:14096 Replies:13 FollowUps:17

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Birdsville

Birdsville is a small town located in far Western Queensland, Australia, in the Diamantina Shire. (Shire pop. 326 in the 2001 Census.) The town is located 1600 km east of the state capital, Brisbane,

OBJ

From another Facebook Group:

"Just this minute I heard an interview on the ABC Central and Western Qld and he said he can't imagine the Bakery reopening. "As an ongoing concern it wasn't financially viable". Races and Big Bash couldn't sustain the whole years operations.".

How sad. The owners must have worked their guts out, but sadly, not enough to give them a decent living. It will be missed.

OBJ

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Reply By: IvanTheTerrible - Tuesday, Jun 04, 2019 at 17:43

Tuesday, Jun 04, 2019 at 17:43

Didn't the original owner just die?
Care to share a link? I cant find anything on this

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Reply By: Member - John - Tuesday, Jun 04, 2019 at 18:07

Tuesday, Jun 04, 2019 at 18:07

Bummer, had planned on using the bakery in a few weeks time. Do understand the reasons for shutting though, tough place to run a business.

John and Jan

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Reply By: Michael H9 - Tuesday, Jun 04, 2019 at 18:30

Tuesday, Jun 04, 2019 at 18:30

Changed owners a few years ago for $1.2 million according to this....

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-03/birdsville-bakery-and-its-famous-curried-camel-pie-new-managers/8405350

Sorry to see it close if that's the case.

AnswerID: 625988

Follow Up By: Member - nickb "boab" - Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 06:41

Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 06:41

That would be about 240,000 pies sold just to cover the investment cost , let alone for the daily running cost etc ... as well they have to compete with KFC in the quiet times for local trade .
I'm happy to say that I am glad that I experienced it while it was running the few times that we visited Birdsville it was a excellent venue with great atmosphere sorry to see it go

Cheers Nick b

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Follow Up By: Alloy c/t - Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 15:35

Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 15:35

nickB.... Compete with KFC ????? Dreaming ....

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Follow Up By: Member - peter_mcc - Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 17:36

Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 17:36

I'm amazed they paid that much - perhaps that included the land & equipment as well.

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Reply By: dean ( SA ) - Tuesday, Jun 04, 2019 at 21:08

Tuesday, Jun 04, 2019 at 21:08

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=birdsville%20bakery&epa=SEARCH_BOX

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Follow Up By: Member - bbuzz (NSW) - Tuesday, Jun 04, 2019 at 21:53

Tuesday, Jun 04, 2019 at 21:53

The link is not working...

bill

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Follow Up By: Candace S. - Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 23:56

Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 23:56

Maybe this link will work?

ABC NW QLD on Facebook

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Reply By: Ron N - Tuesday, Jun 04, 2019 at 22:49

Tuesday, Jun 04, 2019 at 22:49

I can't get into the Birdsville Bakery Facebook page - but the Birdsville Hotel Facebook page, repeats the news that the Birdsville Bakery "will not be trading until further notice".

Facebook - Birdsville Hotel

Cheers, Ron.

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Reply By: Mick O - Tuesday, Jun 04, 2019 at 22:55

Tuesday, Jun 04, 2019 at 22:55

Another requiem Jack. Retirement can't come soon enough so I can get out there and revisit some of the outback icons before it's too late. Trust you and BMJ will be touring this year. Will we see you down south?

MickO

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trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

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Follow Up By: OBJ - Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 17:18

Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 17:18

Crossing the Simpson in July via the Madigan Line and hoping for a southern sojourn shortly thereafter. Will keep you advised.
OBJ

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Reply By: Jarse - Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 08:31

Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 08:31

It's a shame.
However, both times we stopped there during last year's BRB, they had no food available. Both occasions were during relatively quiet periods. Didn't seem to be much baking going on...

There were many people missing out on food. Opportunity lost, IMO.

THAT's really poor planning if you ask me. They played their own part in their demise.

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Follow Up By: Alloy c/t - Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 15:45

Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 15:45

Poor planning ?? Its not as if you can just whip down the road for some more camel meat or pastry to make the pies is it ? You work on previous years projections and actual sales and then the weather plays a very big part .....Poor planning ? The 'longest' Rv line recently in Barcaldine showed whom does poor planning , and it was not the towns businesses.....

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Follow Up By: Jarse - Thursday, Jun 06, 2019 at 06:07

Thursday, Jun 06, 2019 at 06:07

Yep, poor planning. They would have ways of estimating stock levels required. If they'd planned better they wouldn't need to "whip down the road". They would have had adequate stock levels. which they didn't.
Like it or not - that's poor planning :)
They were out of food for quite some time during last year's BRB.
Who cares about queues at Barcaldine? We're talking about the Birdsville bakery.

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Follow Up By: Alloy c/t - Thursday, Jun 06, 2019 at 07:25

Thursday, Jun 06, 2019 at 07:25

Jarse you continue about poor planning ?? You obviously know nothing about running a business out west and how 'fickle' the traveling numbers can be and losses of stock that can and does happen due to that 'fickleness' ...Barcaldine recently as an example , pubs ect 'warned' to stock up ,put on extra staff in the kitchens -bars ect for the influx of the extra 1500 or so above 'normal' tourist rates for this time of year , and guess what ? Trade up ? Less than 5% over normal ....

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Follow Up By: Michael H9 - Thursday, Jun 06, 2019 at 07:28

Thursday, Jun 06, 2019 at 07:28

More likely they can't pay suppliers, they'd know how much stock they need. Empty shelves are a symptom of dire cash flow problems. If you don't pay the bills the suppliers turn off the supply.

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Follow Up By: Member - Odog - Thursday, Jun 06, 2019 at 18:25

Thursday, Jun 06, 2019 at 18:25

We were there 2 years ago, had been plenty of rain, when we arrived in BV after trip across from Mt Dare, old mate had been doing camel safaris/rides, after crowds from the races had left, he was unable to get his truck load of camels out, and was stuck there. We had been told he was trying to negotiate a price to sell them to the bakery, the thought of eating something in a pie, that people had been riding around on a few weeks early, wasn’t real appetising..
Thought Dick Smith brought the pub? Not that long ago, He will breath life into the area..

Some people want it to happen, some people wish it could happen, others make it happen!

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Reply By: Member - Boobook - Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 09:02

Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 09:02

I wonder why it would close right at the beginning of the peak season.

Finke desert Race, June / July peak, school holidays, the Big Red circus, Races, and a wonderful year for floods.

Seems to me that could provide enough income to keep things going, or pay off a few debts.

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Follow Up By: IvanTheTerrible - Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 09:59

Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 09:59

Birdsville has been closed for months due to floods. No tourists, no income. Wouldn't be cheap to have idle.

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Follow Up By: Michael H9 - Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 13:26

Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 13:26

One of the news items says it's only open from April to October. It may be closed because they either can't pay the rent or their suppliers. There was another article when the place changed hands, saying that the new owners creditors were amazed he could get the money to buy the place since he still owed them money. From the Courier Mail in Sept 2017 -

FAILED SPRUIKER IN $1.2M BUY
A BRISBANE property spruiker whose business failed splashed out $1.2 million earlier this year to buy the remote Birdsville Bakery. Creditors now chasing Martin Phillip Josselyn for alleged debts were astounded to learn he had enough money to buy the iconic.......

Anyway, enough gossip.

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Reply By: Member - Wildmax - Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 11:32

Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 11:32

Maybe the people who volunteer at the wonderful bakery at Farina each year could move up the Birdsville track and take over there as well?!

Wildmax
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Formerly an AOR Eclipse and a TVan

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Reply By: IvanTheTerrible - Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 14:33

Wednesday, Jun 05, 2019 at 14:33

Seems their facebook page has disappeared.

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Reply By: Member - John - Thursday, Jun 06, 2019 at 08:22

Thursday, Jun 06, 2019 at 08:22

Maybe a smart man sold the business with excellent turn over figures, must have had fantastic ones to justify the sale price, new owner not good business man, old owner buys back at bargain price after having a well earned holiday?????? Opens in time for BRB or more likely Races.....

John and Jan

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Follow Up By: Member - rocco2010 - Thursday, Jun 06, 2019 at 08:43

Thursday, Jun 06, 2019 at 08:43

Worked for Kerry Packer when he sold the Nine network to Alan Bond.

Not going to happen here.

Dusty Miller

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Follow Up By: Ron N - Thursday, Jun 06, 2019 at 10:43

Thursday, Jun 06, 2019 at 10:43

The old owner isn't likely to buy back the Birdsville Bakery off the present owner - unless he can pull a Lazarus stunt ...

Cheers, Ron.

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Follow Up By: Member - John - Thursday, Jun 06, 2019 at 11:05

Thursday, Jun 06, 2019 at 11:05

Apologies to all, I didn't know that the original owner had passed away. No disrespect intended.

John and Jan

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Reply By: Trawe - Friday, Jul 12, 2019 at 13:53

Friday, Jul 12, 2019 at 13:53

Have been there three times since 2014. Last time last August after Madigan Line. Always packed with custom. Really sad. From friends that attended BRB last year everything in BV was in short supply including hospitality 3 hour wait for fuel.
Very sad but shops closing all over the bush small towns. Progress? Down hill slide more like.
trawe

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Follow Up By: Shaker - Friday, Jul 12, 2019 at 22:08

Friday, Jul 12, 2019 at 22:08

What do you expect when people carry as much fuel, food & alcohol as they cram into every nook & cranny in the fear that they might have to pay a few cents extra in an Outback town??

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Reply By: BrigalowO - Friday, Jul 12, 2019 at 19:40

Friday, Jul 12, 2019 at 19:40

I was in Birdsville just four weeks ago, and from a local tour guide, the closure had more to do with the original owner (the baker who started it off) selling the business, and the payment or part of it didn't happen. It was sold to a local who is in the tourism business and is still plying his tourist trade in Birdsville.

From what I could see, the rest of the Birdsville commercial establishments are making sure that they don't miss you. Everything and anything, is being sold to capture the tourist dollar, but making and selling enough pies couldn't make it. I went to Birdsville wanting to see an iconic frontier town, but what greeted me, was crass commercialism. With a tree planted divided main street, you could be in outer Melbourne, or any where in suburban Australia.Birdsville, has lost its mojo, and the guilty party is the shire council. They have ruined its outback spirit. $75.00 for a Chinese made tacky T shirt ?

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