No vacancy in Nhulunbuy ahead of Arnhem Space Centre launches

Local business owners in Nhulunbuy have been run off their feet by an influx of tourists in town for the space launch. But not everyone has benefited.

IT’S not just rockets being sent sky-high in the East Arnhem town of Nhulunbuy.

Local businesses are seeing an influx of traffic and income as crews and tourists head to the region to witness a moment in space history.

Peninsula Bakery and Cafe owners John and Estelle Carter were still reeling after “pretty intense weekend”.

“Over the last two weeks there’s been a lot of the NASA crew in town and business has picked up dramatically,” Mr Carter said.

The bakery has been providing the Equatorial Launch Australia crew with lunches everyday and were in charge of catering, along with a number of local high school students, for the official function at the Garma Cultural Knowledge Centre on Sunday night ahead of the launch.

John and Estelle Carter are optimistic about the impact of the launch on business in town.

Mrs Carter said the boost the town received from having the launch nearby was a huge benefit.

“The influx of people has been good for local businesses, which is really positive when we’ve had a few bad years.”

“It’s giving everyone a bit of optimism and hope for the town and helping to promote it,” she said.

She said the business was struggling with a lack of staff, like many other hospitality businesses around the country.

“We’re dealing with it as best we can and trying take advantage of the influx of visitors.”

Patrons of the bakery, particularly those from out of town, have expressed their interest in returning to the area, Mrs Carter said.

“We’ve had NASA crew and people from the University of Massachusetts coming in and saying they’re quite taken with the area and a few say they want to come back on holidays when they don’t have to work,” she said.

Just down the road, the owners of Gove Peninsula Motel were also dealing with an unseasonal inundation of guests.

“We’ve been absolutely flat out,” owner Jo Twomey said.

‘We’re fully booked until the end of August.”

Ms Twomey said the launch had bolstered the profile of the region, and had set off a great atmosphere around local business owners.

“It’s a busy, busy town, there’s a lot of contractors around,” she said.

“The launch and the development of that has put Nhulunbuy on the map and is building our reputation,” she said.

Meanwhile BP Nhulunbuy manager James Lynch said he didn’t notice a huge difference to business year-on-year, aside from the change in subject of small talk.

“Everyone coming in the store has been talking about it — it’s definitely boosted the mood a little,” he said.

East Arnhem Fishing Adventures’ Anthony Bergamo also said his business hadn’t been impacted by the huge numbers of tourists but he was holding out hope that it would.

“There were talks that the NASA guys were going to come out on the boat with me but that hasn’t happened yet,” he said.

“It is blowing and raining here at the moment so maybe on the next launch or two.”

Accommodation booked out

NHULUNBUY accommodation providers are having to turn people away as the town prepares for Australia’s first ever commercial space launch this weekend.

All eyes will be on the Arnhem Space Centre on Sunday night, as one of three rockets is launched 300km into space.

There are no vacancies across the board for the night of the launch, as a mix of interstate and intra-Territory visitors descend on the region.

A community meeting was held last night at Walkabout Lodge — one of the town’s accommodation that is fully booked out on each night of the launches — to answer any pressing questions and get residents involved in the “historic moment”.

Walkabout Lodge and Tavern is fully booked for all of the rocket launches.

Developing East Arnhem Limited tourism development officer Ryley Heap said there was plenty of anticipation in the atmosphere around the region, including local businesses who would benefit.

“Definitely the community’s really excited, and the tourists in the area are very excited to be in town,” he said.

“From an economic point of view it’s bringing dollars to the area.”

Mr Heap said tourism had been improving post Covid even before the rocket launch was announced.

“We’re seeing a rebound of people interested in coming to Nhulunbuy and the area and it’s only increased since the announcement.”

Mr Heap said this new wave of activity, known as “space tourism” presented an exciting opportunity in the area, with the space centre capable of up to 50 launches each year.

“Space tourism is a fairly new concept for tourists, especially in Australia and we’re very excited about what this might look like in the future.

“It’s really only the beginning and there’s a really strong push to develop more tourism, including more accommodation options,” he said.

Gumatj Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Klaus Helm said the town was fairly well-prepared for the influx of tourism this weekend.

“Everything’s full and all the shelves are getting emptied,” he said.

“In general they’re holding their own.”

“We had to build a whole other accommodation site which we’ll use for tourism in the future.”

Mr Helm had a message for those planning on visiting the Gove Peninsula this weekend, as staff and supply shortages had an impact just like the rest of Australia.

“You’ve got to have the a little bit of patience involved to get things done — We are under a bit of pressure and we’re a bit lean,“ he said.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the launch was a momentous occasion and huge coup for the Territory.

“You’ve got NASA working with the traditional owners, the oldest living culture on Earth and you will see science head into space from the Northern Territory,” she said.