Lloyd Williams lists landmark thoroughbred training complex Macedon Lodge
Hudson Conway founder and five-time Melbourne Cup horse winning trainer, Lloyd Williams, has listed his landmark Macedon Lodge training facility for sale – again.
The 79-year old announced late last year that he would put the 121-hectare property on the market.
The businessman has now appointed an agent – CBRE’s Mark Wizel, who will work alongside Barry Bowditch, the managing director of Hudson Conway’s Magic Millions, on an expressions of interest campaign set to close in early March.
About 65 kilometres north west of the Melbourne CBD at 79 Tucketts Road, the thoroughbred training complex is expected to sell for in excess of $20 million.
Macedon Lodge was for public sale with a different agency for most of 2014 with a speculated asking price circling $20 million.
Mr Williams first listed the estate after relocating many of the functions once undertaken at Macedon Lodge to another thoroughbred training complex, in Cape Schanck, on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
Macedon Lodge
Macedon Lodge has been the training ground for four Melbourne Cup winners: Efficient, Green Moon, Almandin and Rekindling.
More than 20 Group 1 winners have been produced there.
Mr Williams and his son Nick paid businessman Kurt Stern $5.1 million for the holding in 2007.
Since then, it is estimated that more than $30 million has been invested on improvements.
Now capable of accommodating up to 100 horses, the property contains 15 kilometres of tracks, a 75 metre horse pool, 75 boxes, 25 grass day yards, 20 spelling paddocks, a water walker and specialised lighting facility for recuperating horses.
On site accommodation for 15 staff, as well as offices, entertainment areas and a staff café, also form part of the holding.
“Over the last 14 years I have lived at Macedon Lodge and supervised everything but more recently I have found it impossible to devote the time and energy required,” Mr Williams said.
Nick added that the family’s horse racing operations would continue, but with reduced numbers.
Mr Wizel said the “quintessential” facility sits on fertile soil and in environmental conditions which are ideal for thoroughbred racing horses.
“It’s a property which has been associated with the most successful horses, trainers and owners in the Australian horse racing industry over the last 30 years,” the agent said.
“As such, we expect it will attract the attention of the local, national and international racing worlds as a ready-to-go operation with nothing to spend”.
Alternatively, Mr Wizel added, alternative businesses, including convention centres, HR training facilities or health and wellbeing ventures, could also be considered by an incoming occupier.
“The property is located in a beautiful environment which has long attracted tourists from Melbourne, regional Victoria and interstate,” the agent said.
“It is also handy to both the Melbourne CBD and Melbourne Airport, as well as the iconic Hanging Rock…and is connected to Melbourne via V/Line train services”.
