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A resource and tourism hub in WA's north-west could soon be without postal and banking services, as the owners consider closing the doors after failing to sell. It is one of a string of regional businesses struggling to attract buyers. Posties General Store in Onslow, 1,300 kilometres north of Perth, operates as a post office, bank, newsagency, bottle shop and lottery office. Gerard and Judy Carroll have owned the business for 27 years and have been trying to sell it for the past two. "We will have to give Australia Post three months' notice, and we'll just have to close it down," Mr Carroll said. Onslow is one of four key towns in the Shire of Ashburton, all without a single bank branch. Personal and business banking plays a large part in Posties. "If there are no buyers, if we have to close down and they haven't got any alternatives, there will be an impact," Mr Carroll said. The nearest town with post office and banking is Karratha, 300 kilometres away. Onslow Beach resort manager Ben Matters said the store was essential for the community of nearly 1,000 residents. "We rely on it quite heavily, we're a long way from everywhere else, so they're a really important part of our local community." He said the community should start thinking about "strategies around what to do" if it closed. Others struggle to sell The struggle to find a buyer in Onslow is part of a larger trend of businesses struggling to attract investment across regional WA. Carnarvon automotive business owner, Ben Broeder, said he had been "rattling cages" for a buyer for his business since Christmas last year. He said forced closures in regional areas were a "sad reality" with challenges attracting staff, housing shortages, and expensive freight and insurance costs. "Everything's fighting against business owners," Mr Broeder said. Regional Development Australia Pilbara CEO Daiva Gillam said that without a post office, the town would lose its postcode. "With that, you can lose part of the cultural identity of the community," she said. Ms Gillam said investing in small regional businesses had become less attractive in recent years. "Those that have have invested their wellbeing and livelihoods in small businesses in the Pilbara are struggling to get out and they're closing their businesses down," she said. "It's not unique in the Pilbara — it's replicated across Australia, and regional Australia in particular." She said industry intervention may be required to ensure the general store can continue operating.
