CONSTRUCTION of a retail centre at the south-east corner of Clayton Street and Lloyd Street in Midland began this week signalling the start of works on stage two of the iconic Midland saleyards redevelopment project.

A symbolic ‘sod-turning’ was staged at the site to officially welcome developers to the new area which will eventually become one of the largest ‘one-stop-shop’ homemaker centres in Western Australia.

The last sheep and cattle were sold from the old saleyards in 2010 but soon a whole new range of ‘stock’ will be available to the families of Perth’s eastern suburbs and the Wheatbelt due to the rapid take up of leases on the former saleyard site.

Already a new public hospital has opened its doors in Midland, and more recently, a new university campus in the same area, along with existing retail options, a childcare centre, and a service station.

With hardware giant Bunnings as an anchor tenant of stage 1, The Saleyards development is powering ahead even further.

Perth based property developer Aigle Royal said the retail centre – strategically anchored by Western Australia’s largest harware retailer Bunnings – would be a major boon for the local economy.

City of Swan councillor Rashelle Predovnik was among the ‘workers’ turning the first sod on stage 2.

“Here, you have a project that generates jobs, creates a retail hub and draws visitors to the area – all while honouring our local history” she said.

“Midland is at the heart of the City of Swan, and the interest that’s being shown in this project is another clear sign that its future is very bright.”

WA-owned Hoskins Contracting has been appointed as the contractor to deliver the construction of stage 2 of The Saleyard, a $17.4 million development scheduled for practical completion by June 2024.

It will comprise a further 6,700sqm of floor-space for bulky-goods and food and beverage outlets across eight tenancies.

Developers have gone to great lengths to preserve as much of the iconic nature of the saleyards as possible.

For example, the design of ‘Building 8’ in the precinct will pay homage to the site’s old ‘canteen’, incorporating unique elements such as a sawtooth canopy and the use of salvaged timber from its livestock holding days.

The development will also feature a play area and public piazza with built-up planters and shaded seating for shoppers and workers.