The Ballarat Exhibition Centre is up for sale only two years after it opened.
The Dowling Street site is expected to sell at auction for more than $3 million.
Colliers International leasing and sales senior executive Charles Kennedy said the centre had not received the support expected and the owners were moving interstate to look after other business interests.
The 1.54 hectare property includes a 5500 metre square building and has all the infrastructure in place for an industrial manufacturing or warehouse facility.
Mr Kennedy said it also had a class nine building rating, which allowed it to be used for several functions including a church, trampolining centre or a sporting facility.
“You would not be able to replace that building for less than $3 million,” Mr Kennedy said.
He said it was also close to other sporting precincts, including Hollioake Park, the Minerdome and Webbcona Bowling Club.
Mr Kennedy said the facility had previously been industrial warehousing, an indoor tennis centre and was the home of agricultural machinery company Lyco Industries before it shut down in 2009.
“Then it had a variety of industrial tenants before the Sanders (David and Bronwyn) bought it.”
The facility will be auctioned on Thursday, August 18 at 12pm if not sold prior.
Mr Kennedy said there had already been interest in both selling and leasing the site.
“It’s a unique property. It’s rare to have a building of that size with industrial zoning.
“There’s also been a large amount of infrastructure gone in there.”
The undercover events and exhibition centre has hosted expos, weddings, conferences, wine and food festivals, show and shines, sporting events and farmer’s markets.
Fiona Henderson
Education reporter at The Courier
Education reporter at The Courier
