The Delacombe Stockyards will see its service come to an end tomorrow following the sheep and lamb sales.

The La Trobe Street site has been Ballarat’s home for stock sales since its construction in 1961.

Director and co-founder of T.B. White and Sons Leo White spoke to The Courier about the emotion behind moving to the new Miners Rest site.

“I’m going to miss it,” he said.

“(T.B. White and Sons) have been working out of these yards for our entire existence, we’ve made so many great friends and colleagues who you see every week.”

Outside of his professional emotions, Mr White spoke about the relationships he made beyond the saleyard gates.

“It’s going to be sentimental saying goodbye to places like the fish and chips shop, the bakery, all the businesses along La Trobe Street – we’ve been going in and seeing them week after week for near 40 years.”

Sales will now be taking place at Central Victoria Livestock Exchange’s (CVLX’s) new development in Miners Rest.

Stock agents are now looking ahead to Friday’s first day of sales at the new site.

Mr White knows while letting go on the past is year, the new facility will give them a greater opportunity to sell their stock.

“As much as I love (the Delacombe site), it has outlived its time.

“This new facility is going to give us a great platform to present out stock.”

The Miners Rest Saleyards are being touted as much better for animal welfare, sporting more than 30,000 square metres of undercover selling pens and livestock-friendly soft flooring which will be installed across the facility. 

“When it rains at Delacombe, it can turn pretty foul with all of the cow-pies around, but now with all the undercover areas it’s going to be a lot better.”

Mr White knows while the facilities may be better for business, it still may not be the smoothest transition.

“There’s going to be a teething period no doubt, it’s a completely new setup.”

Despite a previously frayed relationship with CVLX, Mr White know’s that cooperation is the only way to make the move work.

“We’ve all got to work together, we all depend on each other, we all need each other to thrive and make this new site a success.”

​Do you have any saleyard stories? Send them through to cos.thecourier@fairfaxmedia.com.au.

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