Co-Work Orange is part of a growing trend for digital nomads

The landscape architect admits the years she ran her business from her house were at times isolating.

“A team office environment is a very different mindset,” Mrs Baxter said.

“The socialisation is important, but it’s also a lot more professional.”

Having moved back to Orange after living in the UK and Sydney, Mrs Baxter is now part of a global trend popping up in the Central West.

‘Digital nomads’ is the term given to people like Mrs Baxter, who work remotely from coffee shops, public libraries and co-working spaces.

At Orange’s co-working space on Sale Street, Hayley Barrett said six long-term tenants – including Mrs Baxter – rent desks, while more nomadic workers drop in to rent desks for a day.

A collaboration between herself, Shah Alford and Joanne McRae, Co-Work Orange provides renters, including an app developer, urban designers and a public relations manager, a space to network and share ideas.

Having spent eight years working from home, Ms Barrett said her experience was similar to Mrs Baxters’.

“We’re tribal creatures and we need other people around us,” Ms Barrett said. “At home you miss that energy of having other like-minded people around, people to bounce ideas of, especially when it’s people running their own businesses – it’s exciting and inspiring.”

While Co-Work Orange has not quite gone the way of co-work spaces in London and New York, with some offering tenants free beer, candlelight yoga classes and lunchtime terrarium workshops, the trio hope to run networking events and workshops in the future.

Western NSW Business Chamber Regional Manager Vicki Seccombe said with a growing number of “tree changes” moving inland from Sydney, she believes Bathurst’s Upstairs Startup Hub and Co-Work Orange are a glimpse of what’s to come but the tradition office will always have its place.

“I don’t think the nine to five is under threat,” she said. “But we are moving in a different direction.”