Waikato farm services hub
The land and buildings housing two of the Waikato’s most respected animal healthcare and dairy farm equipment companies has been placed on the market for sale.
The property — on the corner of Great South Road and Te Putu St in the North Waikato township of Taupiri, was previously the Taupiri Service Station.
Following extensive renovations, the building was transformed into its present configuration in 2008. Now it houses two of the region’s best known rural services companies.
The property generates an annual rental revenue of $ 55,278 from two separate tenancies:
Franklin Veterinary Services on a current lease until 2022 and
Geo. Hutchinson & Co Ltd on a current lease through until 2018 with two additional four- year rights of renewal.
Since commencing trading in 1946, the Franklin Veterinary Services brand has grown to become one of the largest privately- owned veterinary practices in the South Auckland/ North Waikato/ Coromandel regions — with clients based in the Counties region right down to the northern boundary of Hamilton, and across to Thames.
Geo. Hutchinson & Co Limited — trading as Hutchies Milking and Water System Specialists — has a similar presence in the region, trading since 1942.
The company provides a full range of dairy farm products — from milking machines and water pumping systems through to effluent control equipment and even private swimming and spa pool supplies.
The land and building at 57 Great South Rd are now being marketed for sale at auction on September 15 by Bayleys Hamilton.
Bayleys agent Josh Smith says the 434sq m single- storey building sits on a high- profile 1917sq m site on Taupiri’s main thoroughfare, what was the old State Highway 1.
“The current owner of the property recognised not only the importance of this location to the surrounding rural hinterland, but also that the opening of the Hamilton Expressway just north of Taupiri would severely impact on the profitability of the service station,” Smith says.
“Accordingly, a new tenant focus was brought to the site.
“Taupiri sits at a pivotal triangular access between with the Counties region of Auckland, the Coromandel/ Hauraki Plains and the Waikato — all within an easy hour’s drive and delivering a strong and consistent customer base for the present tenant businesses.
“The rural business focus model for the Taupiri site has proven to be a successful direction. And there’s little to suggest any let up in clientele for the long- term.”
Franklin Veterinary Service’s tenancy comprises retail space, offices, and animal consulting rooms, along with a purpose- built lockable storage room for veterinary pharmaceutical supplies. At the rear is a bulk supply storage room which is easily accessible from the sealed yard.
Hutchies’ portion of the building similarly comprises a mixture of retail, office and warehousing space. The rear of the premises contains a workshop with roller door access to the yard.
The building has an Initial Evalua- tion Procedure rating of 100 per cent of new build standards.
The property’s yard i s fullyenclosed — with an electric fence and lockable gates providing a secure amenity which enable equipment and vehicles to be safely left on site after trading hours. The sealed space also allows for extensive staff car parking.
“There i s considerable parking and storage space to the rear of the property — which has benefited the customer service delivered by both tenants,” Smith says.
“For customers accessing both the animal pharmaceutical of Franklin Veterinary, and the equipment sold by Hutchies, the ample parking area in its horseshoe configuration with t wo separate road exit and entry points allows for vehicles ranging in size from the typical ute through to truck and trailer units to safely load up.
“The site is also future- proofed — with the rear space at the property suitable for development to meet the needs of the existing tenants as their business and services expand.”