Mill Market ”on way”

Karen Hart
The operator of Geelong’s Mill Markets says he will set up shop in Jan Juc.
Ian Ballis plans to open a second-hand goods market and “surf culture” museum as part of a series of developments following his company’s sale of Geelong’s Wool Exchange building for $2.5m last week.
“We’re looking at opening (additional) Mill Markets at tourist sites across the state,” he said.
“We’re in the process of purchasing property at Jan Juc to set up a market and a surf culture museum but we won’t be announcing where until the deal is finalised, probably in a week or so.”
Mill Markets sells a range of goods, mostly antiques and recycled goods.
Mr Ballis’s North Geelong outlet faces closure following a long-running legal battle with Geelong’s council over the use of the historic industrial site.
Victorian and Civil and Administrative Tribunal ordered Mr Ballis to cease trading at Mackey Street and to close the markets by the end of February.
But Mr Ballis, who also operates a Mill Markets at Daylesford, had hoped his application to Geelong’s council for a valid permit would save the site before next month’s deadline.
“A council development panel was due to meet last week to discuss my application but that has been postponed until early next month,” Mr Ballis said.
“I was looking at moving the stallholders into the Wool Exchange building but it was too small and I have now sold it, so we’re looking at other sites in Geelong including a property on Torquay Road, Grovedale, and also a site near the Ford Discovery Centre.
“But I’ll continue to fight to stay in North Geelong and take the matter back to VCAT.”
Mr Ballis had been running the popular market without a valid permit for three years, claiming he was operating under the definition of recycling stipulated for the site in council’s planning scheme.