In Carrick, a roadhouse and post office sit side-by-side, symbols of local enterprise and community spirit. Owned and operated by Daniel and Tegan Smith, these two businesses are more than just service points. They are cornerstones in the daily rhythm of a small but tightly-knit town.
Daniel, who runs the roadhouse, says it has been in his family for decades. “It’s been in my family since just before GST, so about 25 years.” His parents ran it until 2019, and after his mother retired and following a family loss, Daniel and Tegan began managing.
Their involvement in the Carrick business community deepens further when, in July last year, they acquired the post office next door. “Yeah, almost 12 months ago,” Tegan says. The transition feels like a continuation rather than a new beginning. Daniel explains that he had made a deal five years earlier with the previous owner, Steve, and when the opportunity arose, it was a natural step.
Tegan has over a decade of experience in banking to the post office, but the shift proved challenging at first. “I did banking for 10 and a half years,” she says. Learning names and personal connections in a town where everyone knows everyone takes time. “I knew people to say hello to, I knew what car they drove. I knew how they had their coffees. I didn’t know what their name was!”
Balancing two businesses and a young family requires precision and support. “I look after the kids in the morning, then they go to the post office,” Daniel says. “I’ve got staff that are here all the time so I can go and do whatever I need with the kids.” Tegan adds, “Good staff and good family to help us back it up.”
Both the roadhouse and the post office have evolved under their care. The post office expanded to now include a space for giftware and craft. “It went from just being an in and out post to now being giftware, craft and bits of everything,” Tegan says. The roadhouse becomes a hub for a variety of add-on services, from equipment hire to coffee.
Community events bring excitement to their days. One annual tradition is when the local hunt club rides horses through town. “They go over there (to a nearby paddock) and have breakfast and then they trot back to Junction Farm,” Daniel says. Events like AgFest and Party in the Paddock bring a welcome burst of activity. “It’s crazy.”
Looking ahead, the Smiths plan to expand the post office, either with an extension or a new building on the current site. “The floor space over there’s not huge,” Daniel says. Accessibility is a priority. “We’d like to… make it accessible for everybody,” says Tegan.
Through all the activity, it is the community that keeps them rooted. “You look after the community and they’ll look after you,” Tegan says. Though she is not a native of Carrick, she feels embraced. “I like that the people have actually taken it, like for me, not being an actual local… people have taken me in as a local.”
For Daniel, the appeal of the region lies in its perfect location. “I like it that it’s far enough away from town, but you’re not too far away. Anything you need it’s all nice and central out here.”
From fuel tanks to parcel pickups, the Carrick Roadhouse and Post Office are not just businesses — they are woven into the life of the community, helping shape the next chapter of a town that continues to welcome, grow and endure.
