AN era has ended on Wodonga’s High Street, with Gold Point Motors shutting its doors.
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The 93-95 High Street address has been a car yard for 44 years after Geelong premiership player John Sharrock established the first business of its type two years after moving to the area in 1969.
Car dealer John Van Holten cleared the site this week in preparation for another chapter in Wodonga’s city centre redevelopment.
Mr Van Holten has operated Gold Point Motors for 14 years, but his association with the site stretches more than two decades through working with previous owners.
The licensed motor dealer since 1990, who saw no need to change the business name when he took over, started moving the surplus cars to his Chiltern farm this week as he contemplated re-opening on another site.
“It is a sad moment for me, but I know the value of the property far exceeds what I can afford to pay in rent,” Mr Van Holten, a former builder, said.
“It was time for me to go.
“I am almost retiring age and this is not a reflection on the council or the development of the city.
“But for the past year and a half I’ve put up with all of the road works and closures.
“I reckon I could have stayed for two more years, but once they finish building over the road and the place becomes a central hub of activity, I will get kicked out because someone will want to buy it.”
Gold Point Motors is located near the Junction Place former railway land and opposite the new $63 million Mann shopping centre.
Mr Van Holten took over the business soon after the railway line was removed from central Wodonga and in recent times watched nearby shops demolished in the name of progress.
“Places Victoria have been very good to me and this block of land has been good to me,” he said.
But Mr Van Holten has one suggestion for Wodonga Council — install turning lanes at the nearby High Street-Elgin Boulevard intersection.
“They should swallow their pride and just fix it while they can,” he said.
“The traffic lights are too close to the intersection and they would have to come out before they could make changes.”
Places Victoria general manager Simon Wilson said Mr Van Holten approached them and asked to be released from his lease agreement for the site.
“Work will commence soon to prepare this area for future development to ensure Junction Place becomes a vibrant mixed-use precinct,” Mr Wilson said.
