Hungry Inland Rail workers serve up a boost to Benalla
Working on a construction project like Inland Rail is hard work, and hard work demands food, a fact which has given Benalla bakery owner Kerrie Bouwmeester a welcome injection of revenue.
February 26, 2026
Kerrie Bouwmeester, owner of Bouwmeesters Bakery in Benalla, says hungry Inland Rail workers have provided a welcome increase in business.
“The work at Benalla Station has given us more business, and when they (Inland Rail workforce) do come in, they do like to buy a lot of food,” the owner of Bouwmeesters Bakery in Bridge Street East says.
“It’s given Benalla a bit extra over a time when we weren’t doing too well: a lot of country towns are struggling, and it has given us more business.”
The additional workforce has created a noticeable spike in demand, which helps put more money into staff pockets.
“When it’s busy we go with the flow and we enjoy it, plus the girls get extra hours.”
Kerrie says the improvements to the station are very welcome.
“Before work started, the station was a bit embarrassing, it didn’t look nice,” she said.
“But Inland Rail has cleaned it up a lot – this is making it look a lot more appealing, and I think people will use the trains more.”
Another Benalla business feeding the Inland Rail workforce is Kebab Boyz in Carrier Street.
Owner Omar Aktas says he gets Inland Rail customers in the shop as well as telephone orders, so he knows when he is getting a boost from the project.
And if the phone starts running hot, he knows it’s time to bring in some help.
Kebab Boyz Owner Omar Aktas says:
“We’ve got three part-timers who I can call on for help,” he said.
“When it’s busier, we get them in, and we also send out food with Uber Eats drivers.”
Omar is excited to see how the station precinct will look, with Wangaratta giving him a taste of what to expect.
“The station is going to look nice when it’s finished – the one in Wangaratta looks magnificent. It’s beautiful.”
Image right: Kebab Boyz owner Omar Aktas has part-timers on standby for when Inland Rail workers get really hungry.
