From Drought to Dynamism: How Blackall Became a Shining Example of Small Town Reinvention
In 2016, graziers Sarah Pearson and Lisa Alexander launched a social media campaign to showcase the town of Blackall, which had been struggling with empty stores and drought. The #BetterInBlackall project has since had a flow-on effect, inspiring community-led initiatives and sparking a town-wide transformation.
In the face of adversity, the town of Blackall in western Queensland has emerged as a beacon of hope for small town reinvention. Years of drought had taken a devastating toll on the community, but the determination of two local graziers, Sarah Pearson and Lisa Alexander, has sparked a transformation.
Their social media campaign, #BetterInBlackall, became a rallying cry for the community, inspiring residents to take snapshots of the region that were then used to cover empty shop windows. The project has had a profound impact, triggering a revamp of the town's annual festival and becoming the basis of Blackall's welcome signs.