TRAVELLERS stopping at the Packsaddle Roadhouse over the weekend may have been surprised by a crowd in “hippie” costumes, sipping cocktails and painting canvases in the rustic, corrugated iron dining room.
Packsaddle Roadhouse owner Mia Degoumois hosted the Paint and Sip event on Saturday to bring together people from throughout the Far West in the name of community-building and art-making.
“There’s people here from Broken Hill, Tibooburra, even White Cliffs,” she said.
About 50 people gathered to paint flowers and share yarns in the thirty seven degree heat, many of them staying the night in the roadhouse’s cabins.
Broken Hill resident Marg Symes was one of the attendees, and said she’s visited the roadhouse about a dozen times.
“I just love the friendliness, the food and the people around here,” she said.
Ms Degoumois said that bringing community together for events like this was important to ensure people from remote station properties could stay connected socially.
Packsaddle Roadhouse sits mid-way between Broken Hill and Tibooburra on the Silver City Highway, and is the only roadhouse in an approximately 170 kilometre radius, and the only commercial building in Packsaddle.
The roadhouse isn’t just a servo to refuel and grab a bite, but is multi-faceted in what it offers the surrounding community.
“RFDS hosts medical clinics here at the roadhouse,” Ms Degoumois said.
“I’m also the unit controller of the SES, and am trained to fight fires.”
The roadhouse hosts many events throughout the year, such as Melbourne Cup Day and their annual Christmas party. It’s open seven days a week from 8am til late, with a full menu available during these hours.
Ms Degoumois and her husband Arnie even built a “yarning circle” out the front, inspired by the local Indigenous tradition.
“Traditionally a yarning circle has a fire in the middle, and a talking stick would be passed around,” she said.
“Everyone would share stories and sort out problems.”
Mr Degoumois built a round yard around the yarning circle to add an element of Outback history to it.
On cooler winter nights, Ms Degoumois lights the fire and encourages travellers and locals alike to sit in the yarning circle and share stories.
In the summer, visitors can seek respite from the heat in the air-conditioned dining room, which is adorned with old cowboy hats and saddles and even has a pool table.
