Article & Photography by ALICE ARMITAGE

That Butcher Shop in Lockhart is a family business in the truest sense. Jarad and Amy Walker, originally from Wagga, wanted to work together and raise their children in a way that balanced ambition with family time.

Jarad, a butcher by trade who had briefly detoured into banking, saw the potential straight away. The shop had a “good feel,” Amy recalls, and over months of conversations, they found a way to make it theirs. The timing wasn’t easy: they started just before COVID, facing supply chain disruptions and price volatility. But with guidance, perseverance, and an unshakeable partnership, they turned it into a thriving, award-winning operation.

Lockhart’s strong community spirit has been central to their success. Locals rallied around the new owners, embracing their focus on quality cuts and customer service. Expansion soon followed, with delivery vehicles now carrying their produce well beyond the town’s borders. Word of the couple's success quickly spread, leading the pair to international acclaim – bringing home a gold medal from the International Small Goods Competition in Germany. Acclaim that now draws patrons from far and wide to the region.

For visitors, the shop is a chance to experience something real: not boutique butchers curated for city tourists, but a working business grounded in community. It’s the kind of authenticity agri-tourism thrives on, where stories of resilience are as integral as the produce itself.

“Lockhart is one of those rare country towns where everyone rallies around each other,” Jarad says. “It’s vibrant, it’s organic, and people genuinely want to see you succeed. That’s what makes the Riverina so special, you don’t just build a business, you weave yourself into the fabric of the community”.