'Final whistle' on a family business: 53-year sports legacy ends with 'bittersweet moment'
If you or your kids have played sports in Dubbo at any point in the last 33 years, there's a good chance you've bought equipment fromAnthony Barnes. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue. . .
If you or your kids have played sports in Dubbo at any point in the last 33 years, there's a good chance you've bought equipment fromAnthony Barnes. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue readingSave 30%All articles from our website& appThe digital version ofToday'sPaperAll otherin your areaSportsPower Dubbo owner Anthony Barnes and long-term employee Veronica Schulz. Picture supplied. Intersport Dubbo took the keys to the Riverdale Mall shopfront on Tuesday, July 21, reviving their presence in the city after the closure of their Talbragar Street location in February 2026. Mr Barnes said the fellow sports retail institution made him an unexpected offer that he "couldn't refuse. "The moment ultimately marked the end of a 53-year legacy. Brian and Marea Barnes first opened 'Brian Barnes Toy, Sports, and Hobbies' in Talbragar Street on November 5, 1973 (Melbourne Cup Day). "They only took $73 on the day and probably wondered if they'd made a big mistake," Mr Barnes said. "[But] the business has continued and grown ever since. "Brian Barnes joined the Sportscene buying group in 1977, and would move into the Macquarie Street location in 1986. Marea Barnes continued to operate Toyworld on Talbragar Street until 1995. Anthony Barnes (left), Marea Barnes (centre), and Brian Barnes (right) in November 2004. Picture supplied. Anthony Barnes graduated from CSU in 1987 and spent some time living in Sydney and overseas. He returned to Dubbo in August 1993 to work at the business. "The joke was that I had a 14-year apprenticeship under my dad," Mr Barnes said. "I was interested in running the business, because I had that upbringing. We started talking about extending the shop, because the original one there on Macquarie Street was half the size [it is now] when we moved in. "We kind of tacked on a two-storey building . . . I said to him 'look, the shop's going to be double the size and you're gonna need some help. I would be interested in coming in with a view to purchasing it. '"We bought it in 2005 and that allowed him to retire. Of course, he passed away three years ago. It turns out that he did 32 years at the shop and I did 33, so I sort of went around him on that. "Anthony Barnes at the SportsPower store. Picture supplied. Perhaps the shop's best hire over the years was 17-year-old Veronica Schulz all the way back in 1993. Mrs Schulz stayed with SportsPower for Mr Barnes' entire 33-year term at the store and became his right-hand-man. "Veronica became basically a member of our family," Mr Barnes said. "I get pretty emotional about this stuff, but she's just a lovely person who has ridden the highs and the lows . . . I couldn't have managed the store without her. "A famous floodFloodwater up to Macquarie Street in December 2010. Picture by The Daily Liberal. Facing two-metre-high water that came rushing into the store's basement warehouse with little warning, Mr Barnes battled for days to protect many customers' Christmas lay-buy presents. "I woke up to the radio talking about the height of the flood along Macquarie Street and instantly realised it was going into the basement," Mr Barnes said. "I sprinted down to the shop and it was already waist-deep. I rang a bunch of mates to come down and help; everything above the water line we chain-ganged upstairs. The funny thing was it was a Saturday morning, so we were still busy trading upstairs, and a customer jumped in and helped us, as did emergency service guys. "The water stayed there for a week before we could actually clean and, again, we had people helping out, which was fantastic. I did have to contact some customers to say we lost their Christmas presents, but they were refunded. "The store was able to survive the COVID-19 pandemic by setting up a trestle table at the front of the store to fulfil people's needs. When rivals Rebel Sports opened up across the street with their slogan "sport is calling" in 2023, SportsPower set up a cheeky "we've been answering the call for 50 years" sign that gained many admirers, including a couple at Rebel. Locals for localsAnthony Barnes at the store in 2026. Picture supplied. Mr Barnes' children, as well as a great proportion of young Dubbo residents, have found employment at the store over the years - one that has now served up to four generations of Dubboites. There was only one thing left for Mr Barnes to say. "Just a big thank you," he said. "We have had generations of customers come through . . . that connection to our store and our regulars has just been fantastic. I find it hard to put into words . . . customers have become good friends. "We've prided ourselves on trying to give great customer service as a local family. If it wasn't for my parents setting up the store, there would be nothing. "Thank you to locals for shopping at a locally-owned business. Thank you to Veronica Schulz and everyone who's worked at the store. Thank you to my wife, who's ridden the highs and lows behind the scene. "Mr Barnes said he was now looking forward to getting back some of the quality time with family that he has missed while working "six or seven days a week" at the business. "We have holidays planned. When the dust settles a bit, we will see what I will do," he said. More from SportAs it happensBreaking news alertBe the first to know when news breaks.