Visitor spend surges amid Junee rail boom, dining revival

JUNEE’S food and entertainment scene is thriving, with new figures confirming visitors are spending significantly more in local venues than they were a year ago.

A detailed economic report tabled at October’s Council meeting revealed that total visitor spending across the Shire reached $13.5 million in the 12 months to August 2025.

While that figure is down 2.5 per cent overall, Council says almost all of the decline is due to reduced fuel purchases, not fewer visits.

In fact, spending on food, beverages and entertainment jumped 16 per cent, signalling renewed demand for dining, hospitality and shared experiences in Junee.

The upswing is being attributed to two key forces — a revival of Junee’s local hospitality sector, and a temporary surge in workers and contractors linked to Inland Rail, which ramped up activity in and around town earlier this year.

Major preparatory works for the Inland Rail project’s Albury to Illabo section brought an influx of construction workers and support staff into the region — many of whom spent weeks or months in Junee.

Kemp Street bridge — Saturday, September 13, 2025 | Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

The demolition of the Kemp Street bridge in September was preceded by months of on-the-ground activity, with workers staying, dining and shopping locally.

The data reflects not only tourism trends, but real economic impacts from national infrastructure projects landing in regional communities like Junee.

DINING RESURGENCE

Alongside the boost from rail activity, the 12 months to August 2025 marked one of the most dramatic and transformative periods in Junee’s hospitality landscape — a year shaped by closures, community debate and, ultimately, reinvention.

The closure of Danny’s Kitchen at the Junee Ex-Services Memorial Club in 2024 sparked widespread concern and months of uncertainty.

What followed was a reshuffling of dining offerings and a reset of expectations among locals and visitors alike.

Danny’s eventually reopened with its popular Chinese menu at the Red Cow Hotel, restoring a beloved favourite to the local dining circuit.

© The Junee Bulletin

In the meantime, the Club introduced Harvesters, a contemporary bistro-style offering that was overwhelmingly rejected by members.

In October, it was replaced with Happy Soul and the turnaround was immediate, with rave reviews, higher foot traffic, and renewed community support.

© The Junee Bulletin

The hospitality resurgence has continued elsewhere, with the Junee Asian Thai Bistro opening last month inside the historic Loftus building, offering another unique flavour to the town’s dining mix.

These additions join an already diverse food scene that now includes more than a dozen cafés, pubs, bistros and restaurants across the township — forming a vibrant part of Junee’s identity and visitor appeal.

Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR STRENGTHENS

The broader economic report paints a picture of steady progress under statewide economic pressure.

Development activity increased sharply across the Shire in the 12 months to August, with building approvals rising to $16.2 million, up from $12.9 million the previous year — driven mostly by residential construction.

JOBS FALL AS PROJECTS WRAP UP

Employment figures dipped slightly, with the number of local jobs falling from 2,341 to 2,223 over the year.

Council attributes most of these losses to the natural completion of major construction projects, rather than business closures or downturns.

Unemployment rose to 3.4 per cent, up from 2.3 per cent, but Junee’s jobless rate remains below the regional, state and national averages.

“For context, it is generally accepted that the ‘normal’ unemployment rate is around 4 per cent,” Council noted.

The number of registered businesses in the Shire remained steady at 598.

ECONOMY HOLDS FIRM UNDER PRESSURE

Meanwhile, the Shire’s Gross Regional Product sits at $393 million, which Council describes as a stable and encouraging result given the national economic backdrop of rising interest rates and cost-of-living pressures.

Council says Junee’s local economy is holding up better than anticipated, but that the next phase of growth will depend on unlocking more opportunities for industry and tourism.

“Junee Shire is headed in the right direction,” the report states.

Looking ahead, the focus will be on enabling business expansion through additional light industrial land, while also enhancing Junee’s tourism offering through live music, events, unique experiences and better signage.

A MOMENT OF REDISCOVERY

It’s a story told not just in data sets, but in kitchens, dining rooms and beer gardens across town.

After a year defined by tension, transition and major infrastructure impacts, Junee’s hospitality identity has not only endured, it has emerged stronger, fuelled by local loyalty, community voice, and a changing economic rhythm.

Junee isn’t just adapting. It’s rediscovering itself.