Final sale at Warrnambool saleyards as exchange ends

A close shave, a jam-laden scone and a top buy. Warrnambool says farewell to a lively history of livestock exchange.

Around the time when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, Warrnambool’s leaders wanted a lunar location for its municipal saleyards.

In the late 1960s, the livestock exchange was located smack-bang in the city centre - in the shade of Warrnambool’s Presbyterian Church and up the noses of ratepayers.

The stench of livestock and the rattle of Bedford trucks was relocated to Caramut Road, a hop along from Cassidys Bridge and out of sight from city slickers.

Agents and farmers gather for a group photo outside the Warrnambool saleyards office. Photo: Nicole Cleary

“The old saleyards was not far from Liebig Street, on the main road (Raglan Parade) through the centre of Warrnambool. When they moved it out to Caramut Road, it seemed like a world away,” Laurie Horne said.

Trekking from Benalla for the final sales day last week, Mr Horne was present for the inaugural trading sessions at the then-new exchange following its 1970 opening.

“It was bare paddocks out here when it was built, and then a lot of the farm-related businesses started setting up shop along Caramut Road,” Mr Horne said.

Not only were there tractor dealers and milk machinery providers, but other civic infrastructure acted as a magnet for residential and light industrial development.

Buyers on the final day of the Warrnambool saleyards. Photo: Nicole Cleary

A basketball and netball stadium was constructed a sneaker’s squeak away from the saleyards, and by the late 1990s, talk of moving the livestock exchange was gathering momentum.

Warrnambool City Council has held several contentious civic meetings to resolve the future of the livestock exchange over the past decade, with decisions often deferred.

City councillors voted to close the South South West Livestock Exchange in November, with the final date initially set for June 2023.

However, the Warrnambool Stock Agents Association (WSSA) decided earlier this month to bring the closure of the yards forward, with last week’s Annual F1 Female Sale the last trading event.

“There’s been a view among some in the council over a long time that the saleyards needed to go,” WSSA president Kieran Johnstone said.

“We still believe it was the wrong decision, but we have to work with the decision that’s now been made.”

The future of the exchange was previously on the Warrnambool council’s agenda in August when councillors voted against a $5.6 million upgrade of the site.

Veteran agent Jack Kelly at Warrnambool's saleyards. Photo: Nicole Cleary

Mailors Flat farmer Jim Doukas served as mayor of the neighbouring Moyne Shire and has been a leading advocate in the retention of the yards.

He said the vote against refurbishing the saleyards triggered its eventual closure.

“It was never just about the dollars that come from the saleyards directly,” Mr Doukas said.

“There’s all that indirect money that goes into buying a meal in the city itself, making big purchases at all the ag businesses along Caramut Road and Raglan Parade.

“All of that money is now going to be lost to Hamilton or Mortlake or Ballarat because Warrnambool decided to get out of livestock sales.”

Warrnambool saleyards cafeteria on the final day of trade: Photo: Nicole Cleary

With its late 1960s decor and amenities, the Caramut Road site had some quirky traditions on the saleyards sidelines.

Buyers and sellers could pop into the linoleum-lined cafeteria for Devonshire tea or a bowl of chips as a way to avoid to sweltering summer sun or Warrnambool’s wild winters.

A short walk across the concourse, and you could get a short-back-and-sides.

Brooke Nevill was one of the few hairdressers at any saleyards in Australia to provide an on-site snip.

“I think there was a hairdresser that worked at a saleyards in Western Australia. But yes, it was something different when I started out 17 years ago,” Mrs Nevill said.

“As you’d expect, the (haircut choices) were pretty traditional: short-back-and-sides. “Sometimes the occasional mullet.”

Warrnambool hairdresser Brooke Nevill with young customer Ned Kelson. Photo: Nicole Cleary

Veteran stock agent Jack Kelly said attention now turned to the future of livestock exchange in southwest Victoria.

Cattle sales are expected to disperse to nearby exchanges in Mortlake, Hamilton and Camperdown with a medium to a long-term solution yet to be worked out.

“The discussions are ongoing, but there needs to be something close to Warrnambool for (livestock sales). How close will that be? Well, that’s yet to be determined.”