Owners Simon and Kerry Bain operated the store for more than 11 years, offering meals, groceries, fuel and a gathering place for travellers and locals alike.
After two years on the market without a buyer, the pair have decided to close the doors to the shop.
The historic store will remain their home, ensuring it does not become an abandoned relic of the past.
Originally built in the 1860s, the store was relocated - ever so slightly - and rebuilt in the 1970s.
The store has long been more than a convenience stop.
Its mail run stretched across a vast area, covering a 600km round trip that serviced Barooban and the northern half of Conargo.
Through the 1970s and ‘80s, the store also housed a manual telephone exchange, making it a vital communications hub for isolated properties.
Mr Bain said the store has been a rewarding place to work and a cornerstone of community life.
“We would serve 20 to 40 meals on a Friday,” he said.
“We’ve seen a lot of kids grow up in our time here, some of them are now having kids themselves.
“You do meet a lot of interesting people, people you might know, or that know someone you know.”
For long‑time Wanganella resident Paul Nevinson, the closure carries deep personal significance.
“It’s been my family’s post office for more than 120 years,” he said, reflecting on the store’s long-standing role as a lifeline for the region.
“Recently Simon and Kerry established a good eating place too, which turned it into the local meeting place.
“It’s a long way to your next door neighbour out this way.”
The closure leaves a noticeable gap in services for the district, but locals say the memories, connections and stories forged at the Wanganella Store will remain part of the community’s fabric for years to come.
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