On 27 August 2020, a public meeting was held in the Cootamundra Ex-Servicemen’s and Citizens’ Memorial Club. 80 people attended (under COVID Safe restrictions) and a speaker from the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals spoke about the nature of cooperatives and how to go about setting one up. Within a week of the meeting a Steering Committee was formed; seven to nine people met weekly and volunteered their time to explore what might be possible in response to a widely acknowledged risk to the economic prosperity of the town.  

It was identified that funds would be required to support business planning and formation of a legal entity so the Cootamundra Monster Garage Sale was organised. On Saturday, 6 March 2021, at the Cootamundra Showground, donated goods were sold with a total of $7,500 raised. As well as being a fundraising event this was also a community engagement and celebration bringing people together with the purpose of saving the centre of Cootamundra.  

The Steering Committee then worked collaboratively to explore how a retail store could be set up that would support Cootamundra to: 1. Create local jobs 2. Provide traineeships for local young people 3. Become a shopping destination 4. Financially support local community groups and projects 5. Drive economic viability and prosperity through a community-wide mutual relationship – we support you and you support us 6. Unite through community engagement and strengthening community connections 7. Be proud of their community-lead response to the closure of a central retail store. 

The foreseen risk of not taking this action was that the centre of town could see more shops closing, the loss of local jobs and training opportunities and people being forced to travel out of town in order to access the type of quality and affordable items previously stocked at Target. The Steering Committee was committed to Cootamundra having a thriving town centre that provides local jobs and puts money back into the local community. 

It identified that this could be achieved through setting up a community owned and operated co-operative retail business.  

The Rules and Disclosure Statement, developed by the Steering Committee, were approved by the Department of Fair Trading on 17 May 2021 and The Cootamundra District Co-op Ltd became a legal entity. The Formation Meeting was held on 31 May. At that meeting the first memberships were received and from those members the Formation Board was elected. 

The Board worked tirelessly to raise the required start-up capital alongside many volunteers who worked in the office for members to come in and join. In 2022, the required funds had been raised and the Co-op entered into a lease agreement to rent 181 Parker St, Cootamundra. It is through the support of our close to 1000 members that we will be opening soon and providing Cootamundra with an affordable, local retail store working towards the betterment of the town.