Farmer Peter Chauncy's firewood side hustle fuels petrol station success
Peter Chauncy, a farmer in the NSW Southern Highlands, transformed his struggling livestock farm into a multi-million-dollar firewood business. His company now distributes one million bags of firewood annually to thousands of service stations across Australia.
Why it matters
It highlights a successful example of agricultural diversification and entrepreneurial resilience in the face of climate-driven economic hardship.
Peter Chauncy was a drought-stricken livestock farmer when he turned to selling firewood. ( ABC Illawarra: Brooke Chandler )
Link copied Share Share article Struggling financially after drought and bushfire ravaged his farm 40 years ago, Peter Chauncy picked up an axe and started chopping firewood to make ends meet.
Now, if you have a log fire in your home, chances are that wood has come from Mr Chauncy's property in the NSW Southern Highlands.
What began as a way to put food on the table has grown into a multi-million-dollar business servicing half of Australia, one distinctive yellow bag of firewood at a time.
"I guess I've always had to live off the skin of my teeth," said Mr Chauncy, 70.
Peter Chauncy's yellow bags of firewood are found at thousands of service stations across four states. ( ABC Illawarra: Brooke Chandler )
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