Heart of Wisconsin
Business & Economic Alliance and
Community Foundation of
South Wood County
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A Joint Initiative Between Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance and Community Foundation of South Wood County |
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Enterprising Rural Communities Study Tour 2004 – Australia November 15, 2004 Our day in Hyden began with a history of the area from Jane Mouritz, Tourism Director. Hyden has a landscape similar to a lunar moonscape due to previous clearing of land and the salinity of the earth from the water table. [1, 2] 
This area only receives eight to twelve inches of rain annually. In the midst of this area stands a rock that is high and multi-toned, looking like a wave. The name Wave Rock was a natural fit. [3] 
This is not to say the area is lifeless. Far from it, fascinating flora abounds along with quick fauna--too quick for an ever vigilant photographer. [9, 10, 11] 
People in the area never gave this attraction a second thought until a photographer sent pictures to a paper. As people started driving from the city to view it, local farmers started a vision to capitalize on this natural formation and created some local tourism businesses. A partnership was formed by some community members who bought the land from the government with the agreement they would maintain it. This was the start of tourism for the area. It is now the fifth largest tourist attraction in Western Australia. [4] 
We were told the area consists of five assets- Aboriginal history, rock, wild flowers, the salt lake, and farms. A Progress Initiative was formed in 1945 when Government was going to close the school. This group continued to create a vision for the community. This area now attracts about 110,000 visitors each year, impacting the economy to the tune of $6-10 million annually. Business owners have stated they reinvest everything back into their businesses. One strategy being followed is to ask the tourist what he or she would like to see to determine the next business or expansion needed. Hyden Business Development Corporation was formed to help with funding for new businesses. Community members were invited to participate, of which four people invested $10,000 each. A survey was completed indicating the types of businesses wanted. Then the community advertised outside the area for businesses to relocate. They advertise at the town entrance recruiting new business and labor. Ironically they state there is no unemployment – in fact, they feel there is a labor shortage. To be sure adequate housing is available, they built workforce housing called Sapling Heights, affordable for young singles and families that come to work in the area. Expansion of this housing is in the planning stages. Hyden built a Telecentre which incorporates a community center, resource center, working kitchen, and offices. They print a monthly newspaper and a weekly newsletter from this center. They designed a stained glass window to incorporate the history of the area. Future plans are to build a recreation center similar to Bruce Rock (see previous day). [5] 
Another feature this community uses to tell its story is the use of informative plaques along the trails at Wave Rock. This theme is carried out with the history of women in the area along the covered shelters in the park. A history of the area made of metal sculptures lines the main street and is a work in progress. [6] 
After visiting Hyden businesses, we went on to visit a beef farm and an olive farm. The olive farm was a new enterprise by a young couple who believes in value adding to products – making and bottling olive oil, olives, olive tree carvings from tree branches, art work by local artists and a café. Several points stand out that make this area a success. First, over 85 percent of Hyden area residents volunteer for at least one project, many for two or more. Another is the commitment by local businesses to ensure that each customer not just visit an attraction or two but to have the entire visit be an immersion into an "experience." They refer to a visit not as a trek to Wave Rock but as the tourism coming to seek the "Hyden Experience." The entire business community supports new businesses in the area, seeing them as partners rather than competitors. The community realizes the value of people as the most important resource to insure success--not the attractions or the natural features of the area. [7] 
Dinner that night was a prepare-your-own steak meal at the local hotel, in one of its three restaurants. This was yet another great example of the wonderful hospitality shown to the U.S. visitors. [8] 
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