THE biggest free-standing marquee seen in Albury has risen alongside the Lauren Jackson Sports Centre ahead of one of the biggest conferences to be held on the Border.
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Almost 1000 industry delegates are expected in Albury for Australia’s premier lamb industry event, LambEx 2016, on August 10-12 at the Lauren Jackson Sports Centre precinct.
“It’s the biggest one Barlens have built on the Border, I don’t know of anyone who has built anything bigger than this in town,” the hire business’ general manager Morris McKeeman said on Thursday.
“Every marquee that goes up at Albury Gold Cup is us and the biggest thing at Albury Gold Cup would fit in this thing three times.
‘It’s very unusual for a marquee of this size to be needed.”
The 25m x 55m marquee hall, with a price tag around $700,000, comes with solid integrated timber floor and authentic farm homestead-style French doors.
It has taken 15 workers three days to erect.
The complete LambEx makeover will take 10 days to transform the sports area.
Once complete, the five indoor basketball courts will become an exhibition centre - with a 900-seat conference hall.
The marquee will house live sheep displays as well as exhibition space.
A full industrial kitchen is being installed and the job of feeding the hundreds of visitors at two catering sites will be in the hands of Fiona Landy Catering Albury.
LambEx chairman Rodney Watt said Albury was chosen to host the fourth conference because of its location, facilities and community support.
Delegates will visit farms in southern Riverina and the North East, hear from guest speakers on topics including technological development, depression suffered by farmers and how to manage passing the farm onto the next generation.
Former Australian football champion, and now a Meat and Livestock Australia “lambassador", Sam Kekovich, who grew up in Myrtleford, will speak at a sold-out "GrandsLAMB" dinner at the sports centre on Thursday, August 11.