THE inevitable sale of the former Lavington Sports Club site has finally taken place, albeit having taken way longer than many expected.
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More than two years have elapsed since a one-time icon of the Albury entertainment scene shut its doors and left 40 staff members without jobs.
The sports club was once a pumping place, but since the snap closure the building and one-time well-kept surrounds have sadly degenerated.
Like a lot of licensed clubs along the Murray River, the wheel turned when poker machines were introduced into Victoria in the early 1990s and by the end of the decade Lavington was mired in debt.
Penrith Panthers provided the club with a lifeline in 2001 as it expanded with a buy-up of other clubs in Sydney. They also spread their wings into regional NSW with Bathurst and Lavington added to their stable.
The club ticked along without ever reaching the dizzy heights of the past.
In 2009, the Panthers sold the oval to Albury Council for $1.2 million to ease some renewed financial pressures.
Many keen real estate observers believe the new owner of the 4.8-hectare site has bagged a similar bargain.
The guessing game as to the identity of the new owner has been on in earnest in the last 24 hours as many are keen to learn of their future plans for the site.
Aged care facility, church, supermarket, sporting administration centre and more housing have been thrown up as potential uses.
The council knocked back the chance to buy the site late last year, but is keeping a close watch on events in recent days.
It will start an $8 million redevelopment of Lavington Oval later this year which will ensure the venue is among the best regional facilities outside of the capital cities.
The oval has hosted national rugby league and soccer matches for premiership points in recent years and a Big Bash cricket practice match was successfully staged before Christmas.
Another AFL pre-season match is coming in March and council needs the existing parking to accommodate large crowds.
Lavington lawn bowlers have been on “tenterhooks” about their future on the site as a sale drew closer. Their fears have been allayed in the short-term by the new owner, but for the wider community the wait continues.
