End of an era for cotton ginning at Bourke?

Plenty of cotton is still produced around Bourke and Brewarrina, but the two gins are not operational. Photo: Beverley callow

Story by Tricia Duffield

The blue bales strung out across the cotton fields of the Outback are a familiar sight, telling the story of good times – and bad – in an industry being rapidly transformed by climate, supply chains and a shifting rural workforce.

Last year’s growing season was good according to Bourke cotton grower Tony Thompson, and although it wasn’t the best in recent years, the year’s productivity was enough to lift growers’ optimism.

While it’s been relatively good news for growers, structural changes in the way cotton is transported and processed has seen the end of an era in Bourke.

The background hum of the two cotton gins at Bourke has been silent for the past two seasons, and even though there have been good crops, Tony said it was unlikely the local gins would ever re-open.

An industry that once employed large numbers of seasonal workers and had a noticeable impact on the local economy, has had to change with the times. Tony is like many cotton farmers who have mixed feelings about the efficiencies of the industry, and the cost of those efficiencies on the fabric of small communities like Bourke.

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