Saleyards Final Action

Whytes Road industrial land sells for $1.82 million at auction

STORY ACCREDITATION: The Border Mail DECEMBER 3 2021 – 5:10PM | WRITER: David Johnston

STRONG COMPETITION: Part of the crowd, including representative of the successful purchaser, second from left, at the auction of industrial land at Bandiana. Picture: JAMES WILTSHIRE
STRONG COMPETITION: Part of the crowd, including representative of the successful purchaser, second from left, at the auction of industrial land at Bandiana. Picture: JAMES WILTSHIRE

The last remaining piece of land which formed part of the old Bandiana saleyards complex was sold at a hotly contested auction on Friday.

The five hectares of vacant industrial land was formerly the loading area for the major livestock centre which closed in 2015 following the creation of privately-operated yards at North Barnawartha.

Wodonga Council operated the WG Page Saleyards at Bandiana for decades before a controversial decision to sell the saleyards business and the creation of the Murray Valley Highway complex.

The remaining land on Whytes Road was sold for $1.82 million to a metro-based entity, SGE Investments, whose representative at the auction said the block had outstanding subdivision potential.

Outgoing Wodonga Council chief executive Mark Dixon was an interested onlooker at the auction.

“We are pleased the sale achieved a good outcome for our community,” he said.

Former AFL great Fraser Gehrig was also among the auction crowd.

Immix relocated to Bandiana from North Albury.

L.J. Colquhoun Dixon was appointed selling agents for the auction yesterday when bidding opened on a vendor bid of $1 million with the property declared on the market at $1.4 million.

The successful bidder had just one other rival from the outset.

“The sale has definitely exceeded expectations,” auctioneer Andrew Dixon said.

L.J. Colquhoun Dixon also successfully sold at auction on Friday a five-year-old warehouse in North Albury for $945,000.

The 483 square metre warehouse in Ramsden Drive sold for $945,000 to an Albury-based camper trailer manufacturer with an existing factor in the area.

But due to business growth the company sought additional property for expansion..

Five bidders were active during the auction.

Meanwhile, Wodonga Council has listed three land sales within the Logic industrial hub in a confidential session of a special meeting to be held on Monday.