The Darkan wet-blue tannery in Western Australia was broken up at auction on May 31 and will no longer operate as a production plant. Fleshing machines, drums and ancillary plant were sold to Queensland and NSW operators for a sum ‘not in excess of A$200,000’ (US$155,800).
It was hoped that the bovine tannery, which closed with the loss of some 20 jobs, would realize A$1million and re-open as a functioning processing plant.
Just three days before the auction the Western Australia quarantine department placed an order on the sale requiring that everything had to be high-pressure water blasted before it left the site. Concerns were raised that the plant could be contaminated with seeds from hides that had been imported from eastern states.
The largely bovine operation closed a year ago amidst claims from union representatives that staff had been given inadequate notice. Owners Gosh Leather were accused of claiming difficulties with resourcing hides because of ‘foot and mouth’ as the reason for the tannery closure.
John Gregson of WA auctioneers Gregsons, told Leather International: ‘The tannery was broken up and all of the plant went to Queensland and NSW operators. ‘The price realized was nowhere near in excess of A$200,000.’ Receivers Taylor Woodings would only say that it was a ‘break-up sale’.
