Looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Sydney and start a business in agriculture, Eddie Wehbe decided to move with his family to Goulburn, establishing Woodlands Ridge Poultry in 2014. He now grows poultry for the industry from his facility, 20 minutes north-west of Goulburn town centre, with a focus on sustainable and viable farming practices.
Eddie says he chose Goulburn because of its locality, and the lifestyle it offered for raising a young family. Although he was uncertain whether his wife and kids would enjoy the move, he says they found it really easy and made friends very quickly. “There are great opportunities here with schooling, sports and activities. And it’s a great community…we really love the community in Goulburn.”
From a business perspective, Eddie says Goulburn ticks all the boxes. He believes the area offers huge growth potential for all types of businesses, and is ideally located with great proximity to Sydney, Canberra and the coast. He says he and his family often take the one hour trip to Canberra for shopping, restaurants or entertainment. “It’s an easy one hour drive, no traffic, and we like Canberra. It’s well laid out, so we find it really enjoyable.”
For those thinking of starting a business or moving a business to Goulburn, Eddie recommends talking to the local council to discuss what you want to do. He says the Goulburn council was very inviting and proactive, and ensured he had all the information he needed to establish and sustain a business in the area.
“It was a big move to come from Sydney to Goulburn. But we’ve loved it. We’ve never looked back.”
You can learn more about living and working in Goulburn at www.goulburn.nsw.gov.au and visiting the region at www.goulburnaustralia.com.au.