SOUTH-WEST farmers will have to adjust to a new picture of livestock saleyards in the region, with the Warrnambool closure brought forward to the end of December.

Originally slated to close midway through next year after a 4-3 decision by Warrnambool City Council last month, the decision by one of the largest stock agents to finish up after Christmas has had an immediate ripple effect, with the Warrnambool Stock Agents Association (WSAA) electing to close at the same time.

Jack Kelly of J & J Kelly Stock Agency took to social media on Monday to announce their decision to move their operations to Hamilton and Mortlake from January onwards.

“We thank our very, very loyal clientele and (are) looking forward to the future,” he said.

“Jump on board with us, thank you.”

Most of the commenters wished the business well, with one referring to the situation as “traumatic times”.

WSAA president, Kieran Johnstone, lamented the situation and expected it to be “emotional … for all the agents, their clients and also plenty of farmers”.

“It’s been an extremely hard decision to make,” he said.

“After Council made the decision to close the yards next year, a number of our clients decided to move their business elsewhere, which ultimately led us to decide to close the yards early.”

The final weekly market at the yards was on Wednesday, before the last ever sale to be the Fl Sale on Wednesday, December 28.

The current site has been occupied since 1970 but the history of saleyards in Warrnambool goes back to 1883.

Brian O’Halloran and Co stock agent, Anthony Mahony, said it was “very disappointing that four councillors voted to shut down such an iconic facility which has been an integral part of the economic landscape”.

“The support we have received from vendors, buyers, the community and local businesses has been amazing and it’s disappointing they have been ignored and the facility lost,” he said.

HF Richardson agent, Phil Bohan, has been selling at the yards for decades and believed it was the end of a significant part of Warrnambool’s history.

“For as long as there has been people living in the south-west, there has been a sale yards in Warrnambool,” he said.

“On the 28th of this month, that chapter in our history will be closed forever, and that is very sad.”

After Wednesday’s weekly sale, Mr Kelly again appeared in a social media video, this time concluding his sales report with a closing message.

“(It was a) very emotional time for not only saleyards workers but also all agents at Warrnambool and their staff,” he said.

“Vendors have been really supporting the saleyards at Warrnambool now for a long, long time. Many generations of family members right throughout have been supporting it and also the buying fraternity. They want to be congratulated on the way they’ve handled themselves.

“We have the F1 sale on December the 28th, so we look forward to catching up with everyone then and go from there. Thank you for your time.”