MURRAY Goulburn is close to finalising the sale of land in Wodonga that houses the Border’s biggest milk distributor.
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The dairy co-op has had the Hovell Street property on the market for two years, with its offering predating Murray Goulburn’s Kiewa factory closure announcement.
A price tag of $425,000 had been placed on the 434 sq m block that houses Coon’s Dairy which recently switched its distribution of milk from Murray Goulburn’s Kiewa Country to Riverina Fresh.
Selling agent Simon Reid, of LJ Colquhoun Dixon Commercial Real Estate, confirmed an offer had been accepted to buy the freehold.
Though contracts have yet to be exchanged.
Similarly a spokesman for Murray Goulburn would not go beyond stating: “There is currently a sale process underway for this property.”
However, Mr Reid said the prospective buyer was a North East resident keen to have the dairy owned by Linda Coon remain at that site.
“The owner is an investor looking to have Linda stay on there as long as she likes,” Mr Reid said.
“They’re keen to see Linda stay on as a tenant.”
Ms Coon would welcome the opportunity to continue to operate from the corner block which has been home to the business, founded by her parents, since 1985.
“I like it here, I like it in Wodonga,” she said.
The Coons’ distribution business originally began by supplying Murray Goulburn-branded milk to Border retailers and food firms, when Kiewa Country was still processed by the North Eastern Dairy Company.
With the takeover of the NEDCO by Murray Goulburn in 1986, Coon’s Dairy became synonymous with Kiewa milk.
The firm’s Hovell Street home has been largely unchanged since 1999 when a new 200 sq m refrigeration centre was opened by then Wodonga mayor Graham Crapp.
The $500,000 extension allowed for 300 sq m of refrigerated storage and the loading of three trucks at once.
A corner house that had been rented as a residence was demolished for the extension.
Ms Coon, who switched to Wagga-based Riverina Fresh following the end of Kiewa milk in late July, has been happy with the response.
“It’s going well, it’s obviously different but I think it’s been accepted,” Ms Coon said.