‘Our small town may die’: This NSW country town is in danger of disappearing

Tullamore was once a thriving rural community with two general stores, two banks, a butcher, a hairdresser and a newsagency.

But almost all of these businesses have since shutdown and the town, in NSW’s Central West, is in danger of disappearing.

Do you have a story? Contact reporter April Glover at april.glover@nine.com.au.

The small community of just under 500 people has now potentially lost its pub, too, after the new owners closed the doors, effectively leaving the main strip on Cardigan Street a ghost town.

Only a BP service station and a bowling club remain.

Longtime resident Robert Edwards has lived in Tullamore for nearly 70 years.

He said the town’s main street has effectively been “killed”.

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“The closure of the hotel is a kick in the guts,” Edwards told nine.com.au.

“Our community is weakening. Our small town may die.”

The Tullamore Hotel changed hands in December 2025.

Within six months, it closed without warning, the owners citing a “change in circumstances”.

The owners told nine.com.au after this story was published that the closure is temporary due to “staffing issues”.

They said it is hoped the pub will open in the next few months but could not give an exact date.

Residents previously said they were in the dark about why the pub closed.

The friendly country pub had a kitchen, accommodation and showers for passers-by or truck drivers stopping over in Tullamore.

Its closure means visitors may bypass the town altogether.

But Tullamore’s problems extend far beyond its pub.

Many are concerned it is shrinking beyond recognition.

Some blame property owners for buying up commercial sites and using them for residential purposes.

Parkes Shire Council Deputy Mayor Marg Applebee said reports of shops being used for private accommodation are “concerning”.

She said the council is aware of this issue and would be “proactive in regaining some of these facilities within the township of Tullamore”.

“It’s very concerning if potentially these frontages on the main street have been purchased, and people are living there,” Applebee said.

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“That takes away that presence from the main street area and that’s very disappointing.”

The council said it is not aware of why Tullamore Hotel has been closed.

“It’s a significant concern that this beautiful building within the town has shut down,” she added.

“When you lose something like that within a small community, it’s a massive impact.

“I’m always standing up for our smaller communities.

“I always want to make sure that they’re represented.”

Some locals worry Tullamore is taking a back seat to the bigger nearby towns.

Residents hope to rally together to keep the remaining places open.

BP truckstop keeps town moving

Jonathan Sleiman runs the BP Tullamore Truckstop & General Store, the town’s only option for fresh groceries, petrol and other essentials.

It has been described by residents as the “lifeblood” of the town.

Sleiman said he feels a sense of pride for being the community’s saving grace.

“There’s a charm in Tullamore, once you’re there you kind of fall in love with it,” he said.

“The community is beautiful, but they’re also scared.”

Sleiman bought the BP in April last year and extended it to include showers and a mini-mart.

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Without it, locals would have to travel nearly 100 kilometres to Parkes or Dubbo to shop at the closest supermarket.

“But the pub offered accommodation and dinner for people, we also get a lot of truckies coming through too,” Sleiman said.

“With that closed, why would anyone pass through?”

Around 45 per cent of Sleiman’s business is truck drivers stopping to rest, eat or refuel, he said.

“If the truckies stop, we’re up a creek without a paddle,” he added.

Local bowlo faces pressure

Robert’s son David Edwards is the secretary of the Tullamore Bowling Club, one of the few establishments left open after the pub’s closure.

David said his beloved town, where he has lived his whole life, is fading away.

“The community is concerned that the historical aspects of our town are disappearing,” David said.

“We’ve pretty much lost our main street. I’d love to see it rebuilt.”

David, who owns an electrical business in Tullamore, is proud of the bowling club for surviving this long.

But the community needs more.

“There’s a lot of pressure for the bowling club to open for lunch, plus we have our town’s only ATM,” he added.

He hopes the pub may reopen or be purchased by enterprising owners who can bring it back from the brink.

Other establishments are at risk of a similar fate.

Tullamore Central School, the only school in town, once had hundreds of students.

There are now only about 50 children attending.

Robert Edwards warned the ageing population of Tullamore and mass exodus of business owners may be the final nail in the coffin for the small NSW town.

“It’s going to be very difficult to survive, people are disheartened they have to travel so far for services.”