Community
18 June, 2026
Business concept bolsters club growth
THE successful launch of a side venture has helped Terang Harness Racing Club in growing from strength to strength.
The club last year launched Terang Storage with 10 storage containers located at Dalvui Raceway, available for both long- and short-term rental options.
Club president Chris O’Connor said the past year had proven the humble idea to be a fortuitous one, having expanded from an initial 10 storage containers to 20.
“We’re always trying to have one or two available for people, so our plan is to keep building the business as required,” he said.
“We still hope to get up to 30 containers because business wise it’s been quite good.
“We’ve had some people who have been here the whole time but generally, we have people come and go.
“It all depends on whether they’re moving house or whatever their needs might be – we’ve had a little caravan in one of the containers and we’ve had a car in one, so all sorts of things which people have wanted to store safely.
“It’s been very good because we have security with the front gate locked, containers locked, and we’re under surveillance all the time – it’s been pretty much trouble free, but you’ll always have an issue or two.”
Mr O’Connor said the concept had been launched with the idea of filling a gap in industry while utilising spare space at the facility to harness income for the club.
“The idea of it was to help contribute financially to the harness racing club, to bolster our income,” he said.
“We’ve got some wonderful sponsors but we felt we had an opportunity to get some outside money coming into the club.
“Already it has contributed around 10 per cent to our budget this year and I think it has the potential to grow another five per cent each year for the next couple of years.
“I think it can significantly contribute to the balance sheet of the Terang Harness Racing Club.”
Mr O’Connor said public feedback had been overwhelmingly positive, showing the potential for the business to bolster the club’s future without impacting facilities while also providing a service which otherwise wasn’t available locally.
“It’s based in an area that isn’t taxing on our sporting facilities,” he said.
“Twelve months ago it was an idea and now it’s producing 10 per cent of our income, which is really exciting to think of.
“It’s something we needed to do to become more commercial around the way we operate the club.
“This is really satisfying to see that it’s been running 12 months, it’s been trialled and tested and now it’s getting some nice feedback.
“We really appreciate the feedback and knowing that we’ve satisfied customers.”
Terang Storage was recently recognised through the Quality Business Awards, an online resource which tracks the positive consumer feedback across a variety of industries in satisfaction, service, reputation and quality.
Included in the awards were Sinclair Wilson, Terang Country Bakery, Terang Fitness, Terang Garden Supplies, Terang Laundromat, Terang Self Storage and Terang and Mortlake Veterinary Clinic.
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