Over the weekend Kaniva and Nhill saw an influx of traffic due to the AFL Gather Round which was held in Adelaide from Thursday to Sunday. All 9 games for Round 4 were played in Adelaide or outside grounds, including Mount Barker and Norwood Oval.
Kaniva’s Little Guys Pizza owner Nakita Jewell said, “We were really busy and had a few repeat customers on the way back, which is a good sign.”
Nhill’s Wimmera Bakery Manager Teresa Ross said, “Both last Friday and Monday have been so busy, which is awesome. We have sold out of everything on both days. It’s great for the little business that has struggled to stay open over covid.”
Nhill’s Dine Inn was particularly busy on Friday morning, and Saturday and Sunday were very busy days.
The Gather Round was announced on Sunday as being held in Adelaide for the next 3 years, 2024, 2025 and 2026 and incorporating some other areas of regional South Australia, including the Barossa and McLaren Vale. The Gather Round brought plenty of travellers through Nhill and Kaniva heading to the Gather Round in Adelaide, giving a great boost to the economy in our smaller towns on the highway.
Thang Lieu from Mr. Le’s in Nhill shared, “Our customers have been incredibly supportive, and they truly enjoy our food. We’ve even had new customers who were introduced to our establishment by family and friends. They were delighted with both our restaurant and the town of Nhill.”
This article appeared in the Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 19 April 2023.
