‘Stop, shop, support’: Rural town’s Christmas plea

A pop-up shop is the first of many new shopping options in Proston, a community working to ensure its survival.

A SIMPLE message about buying local this Christmas is being spread in a new pop-up shop, and helping to ensure the Proston community's survival.

Proston Village volunteer Sara Hall said the town needed support from the broader South Burnett community and visitors.

"Little towns like Proston need people to stop, shop and support," she said.

Proston Village's Community Pop-Up Shop was opened in the town last Wednesday to encourage people to buy local for their Christmas gifts.

"We're encouraging people to buy from the bush - to go country this Christmas," Miss Hall said.

The shop offers a range of giftware, gift tags, homeware, clothes and shoes.

There is also a selection of items made by South Burnett artists for sale.

All proceeds from the shop will go back into the Proston Village's refurbishment.

This comes after the community gained ownership of the shops in the main street thanks to a charitable donation from Cr Kathy Duff and her late partner Cr Jamie Mackenzie.

The Proston community group received $60,000 which was used to purchase seven of the shops in the main street.

"The people here have a love of Proston and are going through a bad drought," Miss Hall said.

"Their passion and fight is what will get things off the ground."

SHOP LOCAL: Proston Village volunteer Sara Hall says the community pop up shop will encourage people to shop in Proston. (Photo: Jessica McGrath)

The pop-up shop is the first of these shops to be fully refurbished after volunteers worked to repair the floors and repaint the walls.

"We're getting them ready to go one by one, giving them each a facelift," Miss Hall said.

The initiative's aim is to show prospective businesses how great the space can look.

"There's no point in doing the work if no one is going to lease it out," Miss Hall said.

She said it was hoped that Proston would become a South Burnett shopping destination.

"We do have great shopping," she said.

"We're trying to get people from Kingaroy and Wondai here to buy gifts."

With Proston's NB Department store and Proston Health and Beauty Apothecary already offering great gift options, the pop-up store adds to the choices.

"It's different things people wouldn't normally see, it's that point of difference," Miss Hall said.

The pop-up store will be open from 10am-4pm from Wednesday to Saturday at 44 Blake St, Proston.

It is expected to be open until mid-February.

Artists who would like to sell their work in the shop are encouraged to get in contact with Proston Village through its Facebook page or at prostonqld.com.au.

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