Iron sheep on the market
The world’s biggest corrugated iron sheep and ram buildings are for sale.
Building creators and owners of the Tirau sheep, Nancy and John Drake, wanted an attentiongrabbing feature to pull the punters into the wool and craft store, when they set the business up in the 1990s.
‘‘From the suggestion of a young architect we investigated corrugated iron, and luckily found that an addition to what was essentially a kitset barn could be crafted in to the body of the sheep,’’ John Drake said.
‘‘After months of trial and error we created the shape of the head, and after discovering we could use corrugated aluminium to avoid unsightly rust streaking, our sheep was finally in the paddock.’’
It was an instant hit when it opened in 1994, with the business turning over nearly $1000 a day from wool and craft creations.
Occupying a prime corner position on State Highway 1, the corrugated iron sheep, ram and dog buildings sit on the 2103 square metre site, which is offered for sale in a tender process closing on November 9.
The sheep, located on the southern corner of the freehold site, comprises a mixture of ground and first floor showroom space, with a cafe and kitchen.
The ram building adjoins the sheep and was added in 2005 to increase showroom space and amenities.
The Drakes lived above the shop floor within the sheep, which has a self-sufficient mezzanine level and multiple entrypoints.
The sheep is tenanted on a monthly rental basis with an income of $750 per month, a Honey Shop and Cafe occupy 100sqm.
The remainder of the floor space and mezzanine levels are vacant.
The dog, which sits on the northernmost portion of the site, is currently leased to the South Waikato District Council and houses the Tirau Information Centre and public bathrooms.