Why do so many regional Australian restaurants close during the busiest weeks of the year?

‘During outback Queensland’s “summer exodus” the running joke is that half the population ends up on the Sunshine Coast.’ Photograph: Rafael Ben-Ari/Getty Images

If you stopped for a meal in a regional Australia town this silly season – thank you, you’re a legend – I wouldn’t mind betting you discovered at least one pub that was strangely shut, a cafe with a “see you in January” sign in the window, or a diner getting hammered because it’s the only food place that hasn’t packed up and gone on holiday.

Welcome to the new normal in the bush, where grabbing a sandwich at a servo (made in the city and trucked out here) is too often your best bet.