Djarindjin Store and Roadhouse
DJARINDJIN ABORIGINAL CORPORATION OWNS AND OPERATES SEVERAL COMMERCIAL VENTURES INCLUDING THE STORE AND ROADHOUSE. THESE BUSINESSES NOT ONLY SUSTAIN LIVELIHOODS BUT ARE IMPORTANT MEETING PLACES AT THE CENTRE OF COMMUNITY LIFE
THE DAC Board decided a number of years ago that the store would be run as a social enterprise, providing an important service to the community and as such, it is not expected to make a profit. We have done some market analysis, and our shop prices are comparable with some of the Broome stores. Our biggest issue is that we do not have the buying power of Coles, Woollies or even IGA, to be able to provide the lower prices they can offer customers. Our store though is much cheaper than Outback Stores. We are trying to work through some peak bodies to put some pressure on the government to provide a freight and fuel subsidy for remote communities. Other communities in the Kimberley are paying 3 or 4 times more for goods than what we sell them for here. In recent years we have decided to employ backpackers to work alongside locals at the Store and Roadhouse. This has proved to be a good decision, with the new cohort fitting in nicely and enjoying community life. They bring with them experience, enthusiasm and a fantastic work ethic. The Store has been running as a separate entity but the process of bringing it under the DAC umbrella has started, with DAC taking over as ultimate owner, and we are in the final stages of the transition. Once complete, the corporation which used to run the Store will be deregistered and this will save DAC the administration costs to keep the separate entity running.
Situated on the corner of Cape Leveque Road and Lombadina Road, the Djarindjin Roadhouse was developed by the Djarinjin Aboriginal Corporation, as part of a commercial precinct to further our goal of financial independence. The Roadhouse has been operating now since 2015 and services the growing tourist trade on the Dampier Peninsula, visiting Service Providers, people from the surrounding communities as well as the local Djarindjin Community residents. The management structure at the Store and the Roadhouse has been tweaked many times in the years that the Roadhouse has been in operation. Initially we employed 2 sets of managers, one for the Store and another for the Roadhouse. In the interest of streamlining the businesses in 2024 the Board made the decision to install a Retail Management couple to oversee both operations. This has proved to be a great decision bringing with it many efficiencies in staffing, ordering stock, and freight costs.
Mural Project
Tourism WA commissioned a group of talented Djarindjin artists to design a mural to be painted onto the fuel tank at the Roadhouse. The project started in May 2022, with a group of Djarindjin artists workshopping ideas with help and guidance from Leah Rakabundel, an artist from Broome who was employed by Tourism WA to help with the project. The group met over a number of days and came up with the wonderful designs you see now on the fuel tank as you pass by the Roadhouse on the Cape Leveque Road. They decided to use the Goolyi (bowerbird) for the central motif as it features on the Campground logo. They combined the bowerbird with colourful representations of bush fruits and water places and arrived at a design which is truly eye-catching.
During the school holiday the core group of artist/designers were joined by others from the community who accompanied a group of children from Djarindjin. They met on site early every morning and over the course of a very busy week, worked together to finish the painting. The striking mural which was months in the making, was completed in July 2022 and nobody drives past and misses the turn off now!
This has been a fantastic achievement for our local artists and has really given the fuel tank a much needed facelift. Funding for the project was made available through the @Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, including some back end support from Tourism Western Australia. DAC extends heartfelt thanks to all involved.
Video about our Mural Project (click Image)
CONTAINERS FOR CHANGE
Our Containers For Change program is the only community run facility of its kind in an Aboriginal Community in the Kimberley's. Others started up but have since closed down, or they have had other companies come in and take over the operation. It is important that we keep providing this service, the amount of space we save at our tip is massive and the program fits comfortably in with our desire to be sustainable and care for and respect our environment.
• Takeaway food, ice, bait, groceries, auto acc.
• Fuel 24hr self-serve pay at the pump
• Open daily 8:00AM to 7:30PM during Dry Season. (Hours are reduced over the wet season)
• Gas bottle refill.
• 18 Rooms with Double beds, TV’s, microwaves, all
with Ensuite.
• Room/meal package that includes breakfast lunch
and dinner.
For accommodation booking and all other enquiries contact:
DJARINDJIN ROADHOUSE
P: 0477 487 344
E: roadhouse@djarindjin.org.au
