Yooralla's Benalla Farm set to go under the hammer
The educational rural property Benalla Farm is set to go under the hammer.
The property is being sold by community and disabled services organisation Yooralla, who are moving to the Benalla Community Hub on Mansfield Road.
The 167 Sydney Road property includes a machinery shed of 580 square metres on the ground floor and with a further 145 metres as a mezzanine level, an outdoor amenities block with toilet, stock shed, outdoor classroom, a 280 square metre hay shed, and a 65 square metre storage shelter and storeroom with a with a wood fired pizza oven.
Michael Everard of Elders Real Estate Wangaratta will sell the property at an onsite public auction on Saturday 8 December at 11 am.
“Yooralla’s Benalla Farm is a special type of property that you don’t see on the market very often,” he said.
“It was acquired in 2011 and has been used for activities and training for people with disabilities and used by other community organisations including the Regent Honeyeaters Association, EdSpace, the local Woodworkers Association.
“Foremost amongst the improvements are the buildings which are four steel framed and clad structures each built to meet a defined purpose together with all the usual services.”
The property has a dam, a wetlands area, while two orchard plantings, including a two-hectare block of pistachio nuts and about 200 olive trees.
The property is held under a Special Use zoning, but our enquiries indicate the local Council will consider a range of future uses for this holding which is on the edge of an expanding commercial activity zone.
“I think there is a real opportunity here with the existing buildings and infrastructure suited to a multiplicity of uses and the property may also appeal to a hobby farmer, social or other community or education or provider,” said Everard.
“Yooralla established their Benalla Farm to achieve a broad range of employment, skills training, recreation and group activities and to encourage users to connect with nature, to meet other people and to participate in the local community.
“I am reluctant to put a price expectation on the likely auction outcome except to say that Yooralla is ready to relinquish their ownership as they bring services together at the Community Hub site on the Mansfield Road Benalla.
“I welcome inspections as I am sure there is a buyer, perhaps a hobby farmer, a business operator, or education or community group who will immediately recognise the capital that has been invested here together with the ideal main road location and land size.”