SALES INTO SUNSET AFTER 148 YEARS
GREY skies reflected the low spirits of farmers at the Geelong saleyards yesterday, as the auctioneer yelled “sold” for the last time, signalling the end of an era.
Emotional farmers gathered around their livestock at the 148-year-old Weddell Rd saleyards precinct for the last sheep auction.
Veteran farmer and saleyards patron Lex Gugger, 86, said he was sad to see the saleyards go as he was just a little boy when he first visited the site with his father.
“I’m very disappointed. I’ve been coming here with my father since I was six years old,” he said.
“I’m not a man who likes to speak, but I never minded speaking at the saleyards as it was dear to my heart.”
The council this month resolved to draw the curtain on the historic but dilapidated precinct.
A plan is yet to be drawn up for its future use.
The move has angered Geelong’s rural sector, which is being pushed into using saleyards at Colac or Ballarat. Farmers Heather and Graham Perkins also said they felt like they were closing a chapter of their lives after using the saleyards to sell their stock since 1952.
“It’s sad, it’s just terrible,” Mrs Perkins said. “It’s wrong that they’re taking it away from the rural community that supported the backbone of Geelong for so many years. We will now have to spend a lot of money on transport to Ballarat.”
Other farmers said the North Geelong saleyards had been important not only to their livelihoods, but had served as a social hub, bringing the Geelong region rural sector together.
“It’s an outlet for people who have livestock,” Mr Perkins said.
“I’ve worked here nearly every Monday for most of my life since the early ’50s. It’s a sad day for us today. Economically it’s not the best way of life, but it’s been a very good life.
“We’ve made a living. We haven’t made a fortune, but we’ve educated our kids and we’ve enjoyed it.”
As a result of Mrs Perkins’ brush with breast cancer, Mr Perkins said, the couple would donate the proceeds from the last sheep ever sold at the saleyards to the Cancer Council.
Greg and Ang Batson, of Modewarre, snared the top price of the day with 20 sucker lambs sold at $170.
They were sold by Charles Stewart & Co, auctioneered by Peter McConachy and purchased by Westside Meats in Bacchus Marsh.
The top price for old lambs was also made by Charles Stewart & Co.