Tullamore Faces a Fight for Survival as NSW Country Town Warns It Could Disappear

Tullamore, a small town in NSW’s Central West with a population of just under 500, is facing a serious decline as more local businesses shut their doors and the main street falls quiet. What was once a busy rural hub with two general stores, two banks, a butcher, a hairdresser and a newsagency has been reduced to only a few remaining services, leaving residents worried the town could fade away entirely.

The latest blow has been the sudden closure of the Tullamore Hotel. The pub changed hands in December 2025, but within six months it shut without warning, with the owners citing a “change in circumstances.” Locals say they have been given no clear explanation and do not know whether the hotel will reopen. For many in the town, the closure has been especially damaging because the pub was more than a place to drink. It offered meals, accommodation and showers for travellers, tourists and truck drivers passing through the district.

Residents say the hotel’s closure has made Cardigan Street feel like a ghost town. Only the BP service station and the bowling club remain open on the main strip, and many fear that if more businesses disappear, visitors will simply bypass Tullamore altogether. Longtime resident Robert Edwards, who has lived in the town for nearly 70 years, said the closure of the hotel was “a kick in the guts” and warned that the community is weakening rapidly.

Some locals believe the town’s decline is being worsened by property owners buying commercial buildings and turning them into private residences, removing the activity that once kept the main street alive. Parkes Shire Council Deputy Mayor Marg Applebee said it would be concerning if shopfronts were being used for housing and said the council wants to be proactive in regaining facilities within the township. She also said the council does not know why the hotel was closed, but described the loss of such a building as a major blow to a small community.

The BP Tullamore Truckstop & General Store has become one of the town’s most important businesses. Owner Jonathan Sleiman said the store now provides the only fresh groceries, petrol and essentials in town, and he has expanded it to include showers and a mini-mart. He said many residents rely on it because the nearest large supermarkets are nearly 100 kilometres away in Parkes or Dubbo. Sleiman also said about 45 per cent of his business comes from truck drivers, and if they stop coming through, the town will struggle even more.

The Tullamore Bowling Club is also under pressure to fill the gap left by the pub, while the town’s only ATM is located there. Meanwhile, Tullamore Central School, once much larger, now has only about 50 students, reflecting the broader population shift. With an ageing community, shrinking services and fewer businesses, many residents fear Tullamore is in danger of becoming one of many small country towns lost to decline.