THE McPhails Furniture store in West Wodonga has undergone a major redevelopment to coincide with an imminent re-branding of the business.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The McPhail name will be dropped, but owner Jason McPhail will still operate a furniture store under the name of Leather and Thread within the former Yakka factory on the corner of McKoy Street and Romet Road.
The McPhails purchased the property nearly a decade ago for more than $3 million.
The Yakka factory shut in 2006 after nearly three decades with more than 60 workers losing their jobs.
Mr McPhail said the building, which has been transformed with a contemporary look and and upgraded carparking area, would become known as Albury-Wodonga Direct Outlet Centre.
"It is a whole new complex and I am basically a tenant of the complex," he said.
"We've got two tenants looking to move in and we've got some space left.
"It's something we wanted to do when we first bought the place, but never got around to it.
"We're trying to make the building more sustainable and bring it up to its best use.
"People aren't using factories anymore."
He said the mini bulky goods centre had tenancies still on offer ranging in size from 500 to 2000 square metres.
The property was put on the market last year, but didn't sell.
McPhails previously operated a furniture shop in Watson Street, Wodonga.
One of the initial tenants will be AFL North East Border, which will move in on Thursday.
The four AFL staff members were previously located in the Trotman Building in central Wodonga.
"The new location presents many benefits and provides a facility that will allow the game to be better managed and to capitalise on the growth opportunities for AFL on the border," AFL North-East Border regional manager John O'Donohue said.
"Our tenancy in the Trotman Building was always a temporary measure.
"We are excited about relocating to premises which have scope for further growth of the regional administration centre model.
"AFL North East Border will continue its discussions with other sporting organisations about co-locating to the Romet Road complex.
"We have always stated that the game can be better managed with all AFL bodies operating under the one roof.
"We are confident in our vision for a regional administration centre on the border with other sporting organisations."
The Ovens and Murray Football-Netball League and AFL NSW-ACT are both located in Albury.
