This follows on from last year’s recommendation to add 83 sites to the city’s heritage list, with two later dropped due to the buildings’ poor conditions compared with rebuilding costs.

The Seaton Motors building at 85-87 Elgin Boulevard was removed after its owners objected.

Mark Seaton said they were in the process of closing down the business and the requirements of the heritage listing would make the site less attractive to prospective tenants.

“We weren’t too happy about it,” he said.

“The building doesn’t warrant a heritage listing.”

The other site taken off the list was a home at 27 Stanley Street.

Last night the council adopted a planning scheme heritage overlay that protects the Wodonga Water Tower, the war memorial in Woodland Grove, the old railway station and the racecourse grandstand.

National Trust senior advocacy and conservation manager Paul Roser said he was delighted the 10-year long process had finally been completed.

“It’s the last of the larger regional centres to get round to its implementation,” he said.