Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something...?: Rediscovering the Comparative Advantage of the "New" Pastoral Economies of Northern New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

What developmental options lie ('pen for traditional, remote, productivist-oriented rural economies of "settler societies" such as Canada, New Zealand, and Australia? In this chapter we address this question by examining the recent economic, demographic, and social restructuring of Guyra and Inverell, two relatively remote, agriculturally dependent communities in the northern tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. We also aim to document the multi-scalar processes that are driving economic change within both places, including the increasingly vital role of local agency and advocacy. The chapter is divided into four sections. First, we discuss the major structural constraints facing the rural economies of former colonial countries - such as Australia and Canada - in their quest for long-term social and economic viability. Second, we set out the historical and locational context for Guyra and Inverell as towns and broader rural communities, and we discuss the major economic and demographic trends affecting both places since the 1970s. A key focus here is the recent development of new enterprises and the substantial role that these are playing in the social, economic, and demographic rejuvenation of both communities. Third, given the continuing centrality of the small-farm sector to the fortunes of both communities, we consider the economic and social linkages between local farmers and "their" towns, and how these are changing over time. Finally, we explore the role of local agency (in the guise of key local government representatives) in shaping the renaissance of Guyra and Inverell.