Camden Saleyards sold by William Inglis & Son
One of Camden’s longest-running rural institutions has been sold and is facing an uncertain future.
Macarthur
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One of Camden’s longest-running rural institutions has been sold and is facing an uncertain future.
Camden Saleyards have been sold to an unknown buyer with the buyer’s intentions unknown.
The saleyards, on Edward St since 1940, are owned by the Inglis family who operated the business until 2012.
Jamie Inglis, a director of William Inglis and Son and the oldest family member in the company, confirmed the 2ha site had been sold courtesy of “a very good offer” from an unknown buyer.
“Yes, it has been sold,” Mr Inglis said. “It will be settled in a few months. Contracts have been exchanged.”
He said the site no longer met the company’s future business direction.
“Our business has changed dramatically in the past decade,” Mr Inglis said.
“We’ve been around for 150 years and the reason we’ve stayed in business is because we have evolved.”
Jim Hindmarsh, who has been operating Camden saleyards for the past six years, said he was uncertain what the future held for his family-owned business.
“We are waiting to see what they are going to do, it’s all a little bit up in the air,” he said.
“We are keen to stay and keep operating as long we can.”
The saleyards, which operate twice a week, sold more than 750 head of livestock in the past week.
Mr Inglis said he had received indications the saleyards may continue operating.
“I know that the owner is keen to let Jim Hindmarsh continue to operate on the yard,” he said. “Hopefully they can come to a deal.”
TOWN’S COUNTRY HEARTBEAT
A RURAL bookend of Camden, alongside the Camden Showground, the saleyards in Edward St has had a long history in the area.
Camden historian Dr Ian Willis recounts the first regular sale days began in 1883 behind the Plough and Harrow, today’s Larkin Place.
It was here where William Inglis started as an auctioneer.
Jamie Inglis said the Inglis family bought the Edward St site from Captain Willie Larkin, and began operating sales in 1940.
In recent years, the open air timber sales ring was renovated and replaced with a stadium-style selling centre.
The site is recognised as a heritage item in the Camden Local Environment Plan.