Killarney Newsagency on the market after 33 years

A family-owned business in rural southwest Queensland that thrived during the Covid-19 pandemic has now hit the market. See why residents and visitors alike can’t get enough.

Killarney Newsagency has hit the market as its owners prepare to retire. Photo: Southern Downs Realty

A unique business opportunity has arisen in rural southwest Queensland which could be yours for less than the average home.

Killarney Newsagency has been a staple in the community for decades, offering more than your average newsagent.

Located more than 30km southeast of Warwick and 117km south of Toowoomba, the newsagent is a vital service to the rural Killarney community of around 900.

Kay Hancock and her daughter Juanita Rawle have been the friendly faces of Killarney Newsagency for more than 30 years.

Juanita Rawle and Kay Hancock from Killarney Newsagency celebrating their division 1 Gold Lotto win in 2020.

Ms Hancock, soon to celebrate her 76th birthday, has been a businesswoman for 56 years, having owned and managed a number of local businesses with her late husband George.

The decision to sell their beloved business wasn’t an easy one for Ms Hancock and Ms Rawle.

“We still love it but we’ve made the decision to sell due to the long hours being fairly intense,” Ms Hancock said.

Ms Hancock said the unwavering support of her family and the Killarney community has kept her driven.

“We have some really good community members who are really supportive and it’s such a great place to live (because) we’re positioned really well being so close to Toowoomba, Brisbane and the Gold Coast,” she said.

“We’re always told by visitors how lovely Killarney is, and it’s only really in the past few years we’ve realised just how beautiful it is.”

Despite a number of retail business largely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, for Killarney Newsagency it’s been a blessing in disguise.

“It (Covid-19) brought lots of people out to Killarney, it’s been a godsend for the town because people have realised it’s quite nice in the country, so they keep visiting and it’s made a big difference,” Ms Hancock said.

“We didn’t want to close down because we wanted to be able to continue to support our community.

“(During Covid-19) there was a lot of concern among the community, we had a lot of people coming in and we found that we became a bit of a voice of reason.”

One of the perils of working in business is the continuous need to find new ways to keep people interested, Ms Hancock said.

Killarney Newsagency’s coffee shop opened in 2020 and has been a major hit for the business.

Despite Ms Hancock strongly opposing Ms Rawle’s idea at first, the decision to add the coffee nook to the business has seen a major return for the business.

“This coffee shop has done wonders for the business, not just in selling the coffee but it’s encouraged visitors to have a look around the rest of the shop while they’re waiting,” she said.

The coffee shop has run alongside the business since 2020, offering a selection of baked goods sourced off site as well as delicious coffee.

The rural newsagent has sold five winning Gold Lotto tickets in its nearly 33 years, all worth more than $500,000.

Ms Hancock said she hopes the future owners will continue the legacy their family has created for Killarney Newsagency.

“I’d like to see someone take it on that’s going to run it exactly as we do because a lot of newsagents now don’t even stock magazines, it’s a lot of work but we’ve kept it,” she said.

“We’ve found it a good way to attract visitors from out of town because they often can’t get the ones they’re after (in metro areas).

Newspapers, magazines and Gold Lotto aren't all that's offered at Killarney Newsagency, boasting a range of high quality stationary and unique gifts. Photo: Southern Downs Realty

“People are often amazed with just how much we have to offer and we got a lot of comments about how lovely it is to see a true newsagency.”

Having worked from 5.30am to 5pm for the better part of 30 years, Ms Hancock said it will be a big adjustment when the time comes to hand over the keys.

However, it won’t be goodbye forever with Ms Hancock planning on staying in Killarney to be close to her family and finally get around to those long forgotten hobbies and travel ideas.

Southern Downs Realty sales consultant Mark Mauch said the family-owned business has a lot to offer.

“It’s a great diversified business because they’ve got the cafe nook there and they’ve got a Gold Lotto agency, as well as a giftware line,” Mr Mauch said.

Mr Mauch said the business has only been on the market for a matter of weeks and has already attracted a number of inquiries.

The studio attached to the back of the building which is currently being used as a lunchroom has the potential to be repurposed as a one-bedroom unit, Mr Mauch said.

The newsagent is being sold as a freehold, making it a two for one deal for prospective buyers and is listed for $650,000.