Bendigo Retailers Battle Network Failures, Rising Costs Through 2026

Bendigo retailers recorded sharp sales drops on 8 July when the Telstra network failure cut point-of-sale terminals and EFTPOS machines for more than six hours across the central business district.

The outage added to existing pressures from elevated wholesale energy prices and slower foot traffic that have persisted since the start of the financial year. Local operators now face tighter margins at a time when many had planned modest expansion or staff increases.

Pressure points on Hargreaves Street and Mitchell Street

Shops inside the Bendigo Marketplace on Mitchell Street lost an average of four hours of trading while staff manually processed cash sales. Further along Hargreaves Mall, independent clothing and gift stores reported similar terminal failures that forced some to close early. The Bendigo Traders Association has logged at least 35 member businesses that experienced the same connectivity loss, prompting renewed calls for diversified payment options before the Christmas trading period.

Owners cite two concrete cost increases that compound the network risk. Electricity contracts renewed in April now carry a 19 per cent premium compared with last year, while weekly freight charges from Melbourne warehouses have risen by $180 per pallet since February. These figures appear in the association’s quarterly survey circulated on 3 July.

Numbers behind the slowdown

National modelling released this week estimates the Telstra outage will shave hundreds of millions of dollars from retail turnover across affected states. In Bendigo the local chamber projects a $2.4 million shortfall for the July quarter if similar disruptions recur. Average daily takings at mid-sized stores on Pall Mall fell 14 per cent in the first week of July compared with the same period in 2025, according to till data shared with the chamber.

Store operators are now reviewing backup solutions such as satellite terminals and battery-powered routers. Several businesses on Bridge Street have booked trials with a regional provider that guarantees service restoration inside 90 minutes. The next chamber meeting on 23 July will include a briefing on grant options for small retailers seeking to install redundant systems before the September quarter.

This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.