Elders to exit northern wool market when auctions move to Goulburn next year
by Dakota TaitElders has confirmed it will no longer take part in regular wool auctions in NSW when sales move to Goulburn next year.
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Woolgrowers were informed on Monday morning (November 2) that the agency would no longer be selling in the northern wool market after the closure of the Yennora Wool Selling Centre, instead selling through Melbourne from 2027.
A letter sent to Elders clients and sighted by The Land, attributed to northern region general manager Ryan Robinson and northern region wool manager Bruce McLeish, said the company had "carefully [assessed] the available options" and decided that Melbourne would offer "the greatest buyer competition".
"Melbourne is the largest wool selling centre in the world and will provide a deeper and more competitive buying environment," it read.
"On any given sale day, around 27 active buyers operate in Melbourne, offering great competition."
Select superfine sales would continue at Goulburn, according to the letter.
In a statement provided to The Land, Mr McLeish said selling through Melbourne "[delivered] greater market depth and certainty for growers".
"This decision has been made in the best interests of clients and to support the strongest possible selling outcomes and returns for their wool," he said.
"Melbourne is also home to our state-of-the-art Elders Wool centre, a $25 million investment that, since launch, has revolutionised wool handling through automation, creating a faster, more efficient service for our clients.
"Elders' NSW clients' wool has been handled in Melbourne since the Elders Wool facility launched in 2024."
Wool auctions are set to begin at a new selling centre in Goulburn after the Christmas recess, where most agencies have already secured floor space or committed to having a presence.
An Elders spokesperson had been unable to confirm the company's future plans in the northern wool market when approached by The Land last week.
The company also announced earlier this year that all of its Western Australian wool would be received, processed and sold through Melbourne, citing declining volumes.
Elders sold 25,000 bales through Yennora in the 2025-26 season, compared with 434,870 bales sold by all brokers combined, or 29.1 per cent of the national throughput.
The company sold 200,000 bales through Melbourne in the same season.
Mr McLeish said Elders remained "deeply committed" to its NSW clients, and would maintain a network of 14 district wool managers and six wool receival depots in NSW.
"While our selling arrangements are changing, our focus on providing trusted, local service to NSW woolgrowers remains unchanged," he said.
"We have also entered into a commercial arrangement to maintain a selling presence in Goulburn for the fine wool catalogue, which our clients can choose to access through their District Wool Manager if they wish."
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