When The Depot Historic Vehicle and Memorabilia Collection was awarded Outstanding Visitor Experience at Friday night’s Business Excellence Awards, the team was excited.
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They did not expect that feeling to be overshadowed for the rest of the night.
That was until The Depot was called on stage at the end of the night to accept the Deniliquin Business Chamber’s Business of the Year award.
Collection founders Neville and Debbie Purtill say their plans for The Depot stemmed from being involved in early discussions about how to improve the promotion of Deniliquin.
At that time they could barely envisage what their business would become - a tourism venue that is fast gaining national attention.
“We’re not far away from ticking over 50,000 visitors since opening (in February 2020),” Neville said.
“And that’s despite COVID and last year’s floods,” team member Steve Beckwith chimed in.
The Depot houses an exquisite collection of vintage vehicles, beautifully preserved memorabilia, and an enchanting array of artefacts that paint a vivid picture of the past.
Visitors are left in awe as they stroll through the carefully curated exhibits, gaining insights into the evolution of transportation and the people who once travelled these paths.
The facility also includes the Cadillac Room intended for private and corporate venue hire, which The Depot marketing and event coordinator Kacey Dighton said has also grown and developed to become a “fully fledged function room”.
“It (The Depot) has exceeded all expectations in terms of popularity,” Neville said.
“I remember having discussions with council in the early days about parking, and I told them we didn’t need that much because we’d probably only get three people a week.
“We were members of the promotions committee way back when and from those discussions Debbie and I set out to create something that would complement what we have in town that would be open weekends.
“It seems what we’ve done in the process is set ourselves aside as a destination in itself.
“We offer a year round and all weather destination, complemented by our Crusin* Diner right next door.”
Deniliquin Business Excellence Awards judges praised The Depot for its attention to detail and highlighted that it is the “the passion of the staff at The Depot have been instrumental in creating an unforgettable experience for all who walk through its doors”.
“Their dedication to preserving history and sharing it with the world has garnered widespread admiration, making them a deserving recipient of this esteemed accolade,” their citation read.
“The first award (Outstanding Visitor Experience) was exciting enough and a testament to the team,” Neville said.
“The second one was a real surprise, especially considering the calibre of the other nominees,” he continued.
“But it was wonderful and exciting for our team - they are The Depot,” Debbie added.
“We’d like to thank the Deniliquin Business Chamber and the Deniliquin Pastoral Times, who have been long time sponsors of the Business of the Year award,” she said.
Already a successful business model, the team at The Depot hinted there is even more to come in the not so distant future.
Neville said work is now progressing on a number of ideas that were shelved during the COVID-19 pandemic.
One includes working with the schools on a series of excursions to view the collection.
And there could even be expansions on the cards, but those details are tightly under wraps for now.
Other winners are as follows:
Chamber Champion Award - Bev Fisher.
The Norm Brennan Community Contribution Award - Lourene Liebenberg.
Chamber Riggall Fellowship - Ben Purtill.
Excellence in Customer Service for an Individual - Liz Thurrowgood, Soul Pattinson Chemist.
Outstanding Employee - Claire Nolan, Deniliquin Children’s Centre.
Outstanding Young Business Leader - Stacey Crampton, Pure Serenity Massage and Beauty.
Outstanding Business Leader - Vicki Lowry, Deni Play on the Plains Festival Inc.
Excellence in Customer Service for a Business - Deni Golf Resort.
Excellence in Innovation - SunRice Group.
Outstanding Community Organisation - The Pastoral and Agricultural Society of Deniliquin.
Excellence in Sustainability - Murray Irrigation Limited.
Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion - Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre.
Outstanding Visitor Experience - The Depot Historic Vehicle and Memorabilia Collection.
Outstanding Start-up - The Storyteller – The Baron’s Tasting House.
Excellence in Micro Business - Pure Serenity Massage and Beauty.
Excellence in Small Business - Deni Play on the Plains (Deni Ute Muster).
2023 Deniliquin Business of the Year - The Depot Historic Vehicle and Memorabilia Collection.
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