Since the Great Western Highway upgrade at Little Hartley opened to traffic in April, a once thriving stop, with plenty of truck parking, has experienced a huge drop in business.
Hartley Fresh & Café was previously on a busy route of the Great Western Highway. However with the new alignment, which includes a new 15 metre wide two-span bridge, traffic is effectively bypassing this historic little town, located in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales.
The Great Western Highway is a key east-west connection out of Sydney. These recent upgrades at Little Hartley are part of a broader $232 million project to upgrade what is one of Australia’s most historic roads.
Along with traffic now bypassing the town, Hartley Fresh & Café manager Michelle Owen says ongoing roadworks are also confusing, making this business and three others along the strip difficult to get to.
Hartley Fresh & Café has been a popular stop for truckies for decades – in fact, it even featured in the video clip of Jimmy Barnes’ 1988 hit trucking anthem ‘Driving Wheels’.
The café was taken over by new owners in February this year.
As Michelle explained, “In that time, we’ve gone from having five staff on for the day, to having staff there twiddling their thumbs. We’re down about $1500-2000 a day – we don’t get the traffic anymore.”
The café is one of four businesses located on this part of the old highway – alongside a lawnmower store, lolly shop and pizza shop, with stores recording downturns in sales of up to 75 per cent.
As Michelle explained, “Before the highway was just one lane going each way. Now they’ve created a new road through, so that road bypasses the shops along this strip.
“The roadworks are quite confusing too. It’s very easy to miss us. Unless you’re looking to your right, you wouldn’t even know the businesses are there.
“It makes it harder for people to find where they need to go.”
Hartley Fresh & Café is usually bustling, with locals and truck drivers making up most of its clientele. “It’s somewhere locals would come and a lot of truck drivers would stop at, because there’s adequate room to park,” added Michelle.
“We’re on 6-7 acres, so we can fit about 20 trucks there at any one time. It’s the biggest carpark between Sydney and Bathurst, with easy access for trucks coming on and off the highway. We have fresh food and coffee for dine in or takeaway, with lots of options available for truckies while they’re on the run.”
Michelle wants to let truckies know that despite all the road upgrades, it’ll still business as usual for Hartley Fresh & Café.
“We have something for everyone and plenty of space to park your truck,” she said.
“The Hartley Breakfast, bacon and egg rolls, focaccia and hamburgers are really popular. There’s something for everyone.”
Earlier this month, the café also began trialling extended opening hours. Hartley Fresh & Café is currently open from 5.30am-3.30pm Monday to Friday.