By NOEL MURPHY
THE former boss of Geelong’s failed Mills Markets is selling a national landmark Fletcher Jones factory at Warrnambool.
Ian Ballis wants $2.7 million for the heritage-listed, 2.3-hectare property, which was listed for sale four years ago at $5 million.
Mr Ballis said the property had been withdrawn because of a flat market but was again for sale, with several potential buyers already showing interest.
The factory was likely to be rezoned to accommodate residential, commercial, retail or other mixed use, he said.
Mr Ballis’s parents operate a Fletcher Jones Markets in about 3500 square metres of the 14,000sqm factory. The couple also operates Brougham Street markets in central Geelong.
Mr Ballis ran Mill Markets at Geelong, Ballarat and Daylesford before they went into receivership last year.
The Fletcher Jones property was a separate operation, Mr Ballis told the Independent.
The Warrnambool property, a high-profile site with water views on the Prince Hwy, was the best redevelopment opportunity in the city, he said.
The property was a subject of controversy when Mr Ballis was ordered in 2009 to pay $60,000 toward repairs after earlier trimming and removing heritage-listed trees without a permit.
“We didn’t realise they were listed,” he said.
“Heritage Victoria realised the mistake and reduced the fine to a payment for repairs we were going to do anyway.”
