TEXAS Men’s Shed members are gathering receipts to show just how valuable tourism is to small towns like Texas.
A single idea from a Texas Men’s Shed volunteer has shed insight into the pivotal role visitors play in the local economy, with receipts left by campers at the Dumaresq River free campsite showing more than $33,000 spent at businesses in Texas in 2024.
Goondiwindi Regional Council mayor, Lawrence Springborg, holds Council’s tourism portfolio and said as free camping sites in Texas become increasingly popular with visitors, benefits to local businesses increase substantially.
Texas Men’s Shed treasurer Mary Belford said the group encouraged visitors to leave their receipts from within the Goondiwindi Region to establish the impact of visitor spending on local businesses.
“The docket-collecting has been an eye-opener,” Mrs Belford said.
The receipts left by visitors from January to December last year totalled $33,289.47, with the most popular businesses including grocery stores, fuel stations and the local pub.
The total spend by all campers and other visitors in the town is likely to be much more. In 2023-24, total tourism sales in the Goondiwindi Region topped $72 million.
Goondiwindi Regional Council strongly supports the visitor economy in Texas, having previously purchased the land for the Texas Dumaresq River Rest Area and invested in the construction of a pedestrian walkway connecting the free camping area with the Texas CBD.
The walkway further encourages easy visits to local businesses.
The Texas Dumaresq River Rest Area is a popular overnight spot for visitors to park while travelling through the Goondiwindi region, with plenty of riverfront grassy sites and a popular local fishing spot.
“We sometimes get a nice note or two about the camp at the river,” Ms Belford said.
“We know by the postcodes, visitors come from Mackay down to Tasmania. Some keep returning as they like the friendly people and the lovely spot on the river.
Cr Springborg said tourism works best “when we work together”.
“By partnering with local groups, we’re helping create welcoming spaces that encourage visitors to stay longer, support local businesses, and experience the true character of our region,” Cr Springborg said.
“We sincerely thank the Texas Men’s Shed for their volunteer work in collating all of the docket information.”
