General News
26 March, 2026
Uniting business interests
A CONCEPT to encourage business owners to share their ideas and unite behind their vision for the town could help bring greater prosperity to Mortlake.
Planning is underway to host a Mortlake business meeting next month, with ambitions of bringing business owners together to share ideas and create real solutions for the town to thrive.
Knot Just Hair owner Emily Thorne put out an open invitation to other business owners to attend the meeting on Thursday, April 10 from 6pm at her 93 Dunlop Street salon.
She said she had been inspired by previous efforts to get business owners together to workshop ideas which help bring in more people and more dollars to town, feeling the united approach is what would “keep Mortlake going”.
Among previously identified areas of concern was the signage for Mortlake and more lighting on the main street.
Ms Thorne said the idea to host the meeting was one she wanted to push for after attendees at a recent meeting for Moyne-based business owners left attendees feeling unheard and lacking in options.
“Everyone who was at that meeting was a little upset,” she said.
“We had been told stage two of the streetscape was in the works and that the third stage would begin soon – we were all excited about that because we were told there would be funding for businesses to upgrade their websites, to help bring more people to town.
“We didn’t hear anything over Christmas and now we’re told there was only $2000 left in the fund, and each business can apply for up to $1000 but that’s it.
“Everyone was upset with that because we were just being met with the claim that there wasn’t anything in the budget.
“After the mayor left a lot of people commented that it’s just Port Fairy which seems to get all the funding.”
Ms Thorne said she hoped the upcoming meeting could inspire more Mortlake-based business owners to meet and workshop ideas – with more voices helping to shape what is needed, there will also be more voices to advocate for it to be delivered.
“I put forward the idea for businesses to meet in the hopes I could stir people up, that if we all get on board we can make a positive change,” she said.
“My idea was we could have an agenda and find an issue.
“For me the signage coming into Mortlake is the most important thing – if it is eye-catching, people will be more likely to stop.
“We can then put that proposal towards the council, and hopefully they can say the costings and it can be factored into the next budget.”
Ms Thorne is among the new wave of business owners to open her doors on Dunlop Street.
She signed a 12-year lease because she and her partner want to raise their children locally, but said more needs to be done to ensure business owners can keep their doors open.
“It is something I’m happy for the community or the Mortlake Community Development Committee to be involved with – we don’t want to step on anyone’s toes, but I think this could be a way for business owners to consider what could support us and ultimately support the town,” she said.
“I figure if I do something that’s not so formal like having it at the shop where it’s a bit more relaxed than people could come in and we could all brainstorm ideas on a specific issue or topic.”
Ms Thorne said she hoped other business owners would throw their support behind the idea, finding strength in numbers to push for meaningful enhancements to be made in the town.
“If all the businesses can get on the same page, it gives us the opportunity to spread our ideas further, and that can lead to action through strengthen numbers,” she said.
“Mortlake it is very much community minded.
“My theory is Port Fairy has the beach, they have way more shops than we do, it’s a tourist hotspot – but I think if we could secure more funding from council, I think we could thrive as well
“Please don’t feel like any theory or idea is silly because it isn’t.
“Don’t take no for an answer.”
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