About 150 people attended the Dosser family’s clearing sale on Saturday, March 19.
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It’s been more than 12 months since the area saw a good on-property sale and attendees were in high spirits.
They converged on the Benalla sheep and cattle farm from east and west, picking over the well-maintained machinery, horse equipment and farming supplies while catching up with familiar faces.
Owners Graeme Dosser and wife Michele are only days away from moving into their Benalla town home and needed the contents moved fast.
“I wouldn’t have done it (the clearing sale) if it had to be online,” Mr Dosser said.
“I would’ve sold it in private sales. On-property is much better than online, you can see the stuff.”
Mr Dosser thought the sale went very well and the size of the crowd was strong.
“I’m not happy about leaving here, but I turned 80 earlier this month — we agreed it was time,” he said.
Jamieson farmer Lou Kay came out to bid on a horse float and John Deere Gator ATV.
“I didn’t do any bidding online (last year),” Ms Kay said.
“I like to see the items in person, particularly something like a horse float. You want to see the condition inside and the measurements, which are important because we’ve got big horses.”
Benalla resident Jill Howard and bush block owner Nick Sproules were eyeing off a motorbike (a 70cc Honda they got for $500) and a concrete mixer.
“We didn’t use online clearing sales,” Mr Sproules said.
“I like coming and actually having a look.”
Sue Johansen from Benalla was hovering around a few small antique items as she waited for the auctioneer to make his way down the row.
“I’m happy they’re back on-property, God yes,” Mrs Johansen said.
“I’ve missed it terribly, it’s the social aspect of it. We actually know the owners and I’m surprised they got such a big turnout, since it’s one of the first back on-property.”
Norm Fulstow from Baddaginnie was eyeing off some temporary fencing gear.
“I didn’t buy anything in the online sales,” Mr Fulstow said.
“First you have to go and look at it, then you go home to bid on it, then come back to pick it up. You need to see the stuff.”
Ray Stickland from Benalla said online sales “were crap” and he was happy on-property sales were coming back.
“I went to one in Mansfield last Sunday and it was a big sale,” he said.
“I came away with four trailer loads. Now I see Kevin Hicks is having an on-property sale in Seymour and I was surprised, because they put a lot of effort into their online site.”
Mr Stickland is a clearing sale faithful and describes himself as a scrap dealer.
“Farm equipment, fergies, old ploughs, I buy what I can and take them home to fix them up,” he said.
Benalla resident Ray Stubbs is another clearing sale devotee, picking up a fishing rod and two tackle boxes at the Dosser sale despite having more than 300 fishing rods at home.
“It’s good to be back on-property, you don’t get ripped off,” Mr Stubbs said.
“In the online clearing sales, its hard to bid on exactly what you want. By the time you’re there, they’ve moved on.”
Murchison local Wayne Brown said he bought “anything I can make a quid on”.
“I go to all the sales, it’s good now with the fuel price because I catch a ride with Rod (Burls), only he out-bid me just before. That friendship might be over, ” Mr Brown said jokingly.
“There is a bit of rivalry amongst the dealers. I only do it as a hobby. I’m a retired dairy farmer and it’s a day out for me.”
Murchison dealers Rod and Greg Burls said it was not a bad sale and they were picking up some “real good stuff”, including a welder.
Greg and Sharon Newbold had come down from Beechworth and were enjoying a “day out”.
“We’re having a sticky-beak and enjoying getting out and the energy here,” Mrs Newbold said.
Mr Newbold said he was interested in some of the horse gear.
Antoinette Montalto from Violet Town and Sue Jamieson from Strathbogie were also picking through the horse gear, which included a range of western saddles and bridles.
Mrs Jamieson said it was “about time” the clearing sales returned to being on-property.
“It’s a day out for us and you pick stuff up whether you need it or not,” she said.
Ms Montalto said she did buy from clearing sales while they were online-only, but she admitted “nothing beats a good old-fashioned clearing sale”.
Journalist