It’s been a funny little dream of mine for years to run a store/eatery in a small country town. Don’t know how I’d go in real life (closest I got was running a pub bistro in a country town about 15 years ago) but I can still dream.
I know a dude who really wants to open a cafe in an old train station building, like the ones they’ve sold/leased off along the Bendigo line. Personally I reckon that’s a pretty good idea. Although since trains don’t really do refreshment stops anymore, you’d probably be fairly limited in clientele.
Bannockburn station near Geelong has a restaurant in the old station building (which is a beautiful 1800s bluestone style), but they’ve been “closed for renovations” since COVID and I don’t know whether they’re ever actually planning on reopening . But I imagine opening one at a station actively in use would probably be more profitable
Pop-up cafes would also be a great idea in old station buildings along Rail Trails.
The problem is that most stations on Rail Trail routes have been demolished or (if they are lucky) relocated.
Last year I went on a ride from Nyora. It would have been a much nice ride if I had a nice coffee and breakfast at the start of the ride, Lunch at Bena (or if I was fitter, Korumburra) and then ride back for a nice afternoon tea back at Nyora.
Defunct station buildings are the perfect size for a proper cafe or restaurant, and already have a large paved alfresco area for diners; especially on rail-trails or heritage railways.
Beulah is an interesting little place. 300ish people. Has a relatively large train station that used to be served by trains heading up to Hopetoun, and for a while, Patchewollock