THE High Street shop which has been selling meat to Wodonga customers for 65 years didn't sell at auction yesterday. The shop, which had been the Butcher's Hook and Cleaver operated by Rex McKay up until earlier this month, was passed in on a vendor bid of $300,000 from L.J. Colquhoun Dixon auctioneer Andrew Dixon. It will be offered for a private sale with High Street losing its other specialist butchery, Beazley's Meats, in 2016 when owner Jeff Beazley relocated to Morrison Street amid concerns over speed restrictions Wodonga Council planned to implement, but later abandoned due to resident and business backlash. The 110 High Street property north of the former railway line is owned by Mike Jensen, who operated the butchery started by his father Bob in 1954, before retiring in 2010, and attended the auction yesterday. Mr McKay, who took over the shop eight years ago before also deciding to retire, partly blamed the roadworks in High Street for his decision. It is in the section of the main street upgraded early last year when Mr McKay temporarily shut the doors when the road works were underway. The final part of the High Street upgrade between the water tower and Sesame Lane near the former Coles supermarket is not due to be completed until late May. "Works are progressing well," Wodonga Council's planning and infrastructure director Leon Schultz said. "Landscapers continue down the western side with paving. "Parking bays and planters are close to completion on that side. "Civil works are happening on the eastern side, parking bays and the like and we expect asphalt to be down soon after Easter." But Business Wodonga chairman Graham Jenkin said businesses in the works area were really struggling with some reducing hours of operations. "They are suffering enormously and their takings are well down," he said. "The roadworks can't be finished soon enough. "It is so important local people support them so they are there long term. "But there is also no other city the size of Wodonga that has so much parking in the central business area. "On either side of High Street you've got carparks galore." Meanwhile, The Border Mail understands the council is in advanced talks with an interested party for the former Stanley Street pool and Richardson Park land being promoted as CBD West. The council has been trying to sell the land for a decade after a contentious re-zoning proposal was approved. The latest expressions of interest process conducted by council closed last June.
PASSED IN: A small crowd of interested onlookers was on hand to witness a long-standing Wodonga butcher shop at the northern end of High Street not sell at auction. Picture: MARK JESSER
THE High Street shop which has been selling meat to Wodonga customers for 65 years didn't sell at auction yesterday.
The shop, which had been the Butcher's Hook and Cleaver operated by Rex McKay up until earlier this month, was passed in on a vendor bid of $300,000 from L.J. Colquhoun Dixon auctioneer Andrew Dixon.
The 110 High Street property north of the former railway line is owned by Mike Jensen, who operated the butchery started by his father Bob in 1954, before retiring in 2010, and attended the auction yesterday.
Mr McKay, who took over the shop eight years ago before also deciding to retire, partly blamed the roadworks in High Street for his decision.
The final part of the High Street upgrade between the water tower and Sesame Lane near the former Coles supermarket is not due to be completed until late May.
"Works are progressing well," Wodonga Council's planning and infrastructure director Leon Schultz said.
"Landscapers continue down the western side with paving.
"Parking bays and planters are close to completion on that side.
"Civil works are happening on the eastern side, parking bays and the like and we expect asphalt to be down soon after Easter."
But Business Wodonga chairman Graham Jenkin said businesses in the works area were really struggling with some reducing hours of operations.
"They are suffering enormously and their takings are well down," he said.
"The roadworks can't be finished soon enough.
"It is so important local people support them so they are there long term.
"But there is also no other city the size of Wodonga that has so much parking in the central business area.
"On either side of High Street you've got carparks galore."
