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Saleyards the biggest in southern Australia

Posted on January 22, 2009, 8:08am and updated on January 22, 2009 at 3:04 pm

The Mount Gambier and District Saleyards has grown to become the largest selling centre in southern Australia as buyers and sellers flock to the region because of its enviable growing conditions.

The Glenburnie centre — which now attracts 130,000 cattle per year — processes more than $100m in gross cattle sales each year.

The selling facility is the epicentre of the region’s powerhouse livestock industry, with the latest figures showing the sheep and wool sector, together with prime beef and wholesale processing, is worth nearly $500m to the region’s economy.

Growing in reputation across the Australian livestock industry, the selling centre now attracts cattle from as far away as Alice Springs and draws livestock buyers from across the eastern seaboard.

In a milestone for the selling centre, Grant District Council tomorrow will officially open new undercover holding yards worth more than $730,000.

“We really have become serious players in the market and the new yards just show how serious we really are,” saleyards manager Mike Atwell said.

He said the Mount Gambier district was a mecca for livestock growing and selling because of its green pastures and water resources, which were among the best in Australia.

“We certainly now have a big reputation,” said Mr Atwell, who explained the second largest cattle selling centre in southern Australia was Wodonga.

As drought conditions continued to plague many agricultural areas, the saleyards chief said buyers and sellers would continue to be drawn to the Mount Gambier district.

“We have a 10-year strategic plan to expand and improve the Glenburnie facility even further,” Mr Atwell said.

“The centre is a growing facility and we are going to ensure the centre continues to revolutionise; we can’t stand still.”

Meanwhile, centre assistant manager Bob Cranwell — who is honoured with having a shed at the new facility named after him — said he never imagined the sales yards could “grow so big”.

Grant District Mayor Don Pegler, whose council owns the facility, said yesterday the selling centre was “big business” for the district and underpinned the local economy.

“Millions of dollars change hands at the facility each week. Some people don’t appreciate the amount of business which is generated there,” Mr Pegler said.

He said the new holding yards were state-of-the-art which offered soft flooring for cattle.

“This is a very progressive move for the saleyards and council,” Mr Pegler said.

The holding yards will be officially launched at 11.30am tomorrow before the store sale begins. More than 2200 cattle will be yarded for the sale.

A shed at the new yards has also been named after Grant District Council deputy mayor Brian Collins, who chairs the Mount Gambier and District Saleyards Committee.

SANDRA MORELLO

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