How was the holiday season for Shepparton business? Let’s look at the numbers

By Khadija Hadjab

Jan 11, 2024

Fluctuations: Shepparton businesses reported contrasting business visitation numbers these holidays.

Let’s reflect on visitation and economic impact over the holiday season for some Shepparton businesses.

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This week, we gathered insights from two businesses around Shepparton to gauge activity levels over the holiday season.

And their reported visitation numbers provide a contrast.

Melissa Thompson, manager at Star Bowl Tenpin Bowling in Shepparton, noted a dramatic dip in foot traffic this holiday season.

Traditionally hosting a bustling crowd of about 1700 patrons during this merry time, the establishment saw a more modest turnout, with the head count an estimated 200 across the same period this time around.

Ms Thompson attributes this decline to several factors.

“Disposable income isn’t as it used to be,” she noted.

She observed that families are searching for more economically savvy ways to come together.

Additionally, the weather played its part, with the Christmas Eve storm marking a low-point in attendance.

Ms Thompson also felt that the usual festival traffic observed in Shepparton’s CBD this year wasn’t at the same level as previous Christmas and new year periods.

Contrastingly, the Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) found itself with a different narrative. SAM welcomed 2118 art enthusiasts through the holiday stretch, boasting a robust influx in patrons.

A staggering 85 per cent of these culture enthusiasts hailed from Victoria, with 45 per cent representing the local Shepparton community.

The Melbourne region contributed 25 per cent, while a noteworthy one in 10 visitors journeyed from the distant realms of Sydney and Canberra.

SAM chief executive Melinda Martin said the visitation stats reflected the local community returning to the museum and bringing along visiting family and friends to explore the galleries, experience the summer exhibition, featuring works from contemporary Australian artists such as Ben Quilty and Del Kathryn Barton, alongside international artists such as Pablo Picasso and Gibert & George.

“We are always pleased to welcome visitors from across Victoria to the museum, with 85 per cent of our visitors over this period travelling to Shepparton from across the state.

“We were also thrilled to accommodate visitors from Sydney and Canberra, who made up over 10 per cent of our visitors during this period.”