Fletcher Jones Market on Flaxman St in Warrnambool still taking expressions of interest

A unique 2.2ha property that attracts thousands of visitors each week to its indoor market and heritage-listed gardens has hit the market.

The Fletcher Jones Market on Flaxman St in Warrnambool is still taking expressions of interest. Picture: Supplied

An iconic piece of Warrnambool’s history could be yours for almost $6m.

First established in 1948, the Fletcher Jones Market on Flaxman St offers buyers a rare opportunity to own one of the town’s biggest “assets”.

The 2.2ha property — that has been accepting expressions of interest since May — currently features two floors and over 60 stalls for visitors to shop at.

Currently antiques, antiquarian books, collectibles, retro items, record collections, vintage clothing and giftware are sold from the market.

Fletcher Jones Market director and part-owner Andy Walter said he hoped any “prospective purchaser” would be happy with them continuing as a tenant in the market part of the site.

The Fletcher Jones Market site on Flaxman St in Warrnambool offers potential buyers a rare opportunity to own one of the town biggest “assets”. Picture: Supplied

“It’s a massive site — there’s a waterfall, there’s ponds, garden beds and all sorts of things and although it’s privately-owned, current owner Dean Montgomery is quite happy to have people use the garden for recreational purposes,” Mr Walter said.

He added the site attracted a mix of people and was “very popular”.

“The most important thing about the site is the community using it for recreational purposes.

“Many people come down here and remember running around the gardens as a kid. It has that nostalgia aspect to it.”

Mr Walter said Fletcher Jones was a very “unique” businessman who founded Fletcher Jones & Staff and was known for his brand of quality menswear.

With more than 3000 workers in four factories and 33 stores throughout the country,

he was also known for his “progressive labour practices” and “profit-sharing”.

Fletcher Jones Market director and part-owner Andy Walter said the most important thing about the site is the community using it for “recreational purposes”. Picture: Supplied

“Although I was not old enough to remember who he was and what he did — the company he operated for many years was ‘Fletcher Jones and Staff’, which meant all the staff held shares in the company — there were over a thousand staff but he knew everybody’s name,” he added.

“He was an amazing man and that’s just carried on as a legacy — everyone who has had something to do with the site or the business has got very fond memories.”

He believes the site is a unique opportunity for the right buyer, given it is the “only site of its existence anywhere down around this way”.

“It could be redeveloped in many ways... [There are] so many possibilities.”

Fletcher Jones Market is also known for its beautiful heritage-listed gardens. Picture: Supplied

He said the market attracted hundreds of thousands of people a year, with thousands of people flocking to it each week.

“Warrnambool is growing rapidly — there’s a very solid community and we have a massive amount of visitors from all around Victoria and interstate coming here just to see us at the collectable market.

“It’s an asset to the community and I think if any purchaser could think outside the square they could do something quite spectaculator down here.”

Wilson’s Warrnambool and District Real Estate director Lucas Wilson said the next owner of the site needs to take it to its next “evolution”. Picture: Supplied

Wilson’s Warrnambool and District Real Estate director Lucas Wilson said the current owners had begun developing a car museum and this was something that its next owner could build upon.

“There’s not a person that knows Warrnambool that wouldn’t know the site, the iconic Fletcher Jones Silver Ball and the beautiful gardens incorporated into it — I think it can be something really special.

Mr Wilson said the current owner, Dean Montgomery, was looking at developing a car museum and said it could still be an opportunity for the next owner. Picture: Supplied

“The opportunities are endless.

“It needs someone with imagination to continue on from where the current owner has got it to and take it to its next evolution.”

“In terms of Warrnambool itself as a destination to invest, I couldn’t speak more highly of it and it’s got a lot of strings to its bow with its retail and tourism sector along with the rural influence as well so I think certainly Warrnambool itself as a regional centre is really strong area to invest in.”

Expression of interests for the Fletcher Jones Market site will continue to stay open.