Former Saputo Dairy Plant in Rochester Listed for Sale

The former Saputo dairy factory in Rochester, located at 69–87 Moore Street, is currently listed for sale through Colliers, with an asking price of $3.25 million. This industrial estate spans 2.27 hectares and is situated in the heart of Victoria's dairy country, attracting significant interest from various agricultural and logistics operators.

The site was initially established by Murray Goulburn Dairy, a farmer-owned cooperative, before being acquired by Canadian corporation Saputo in 2018 as part of a $1.3 billion acquisition. Since its sale by Saputo two years ago, the property has remained unused and is now privately owned. The site encompasses 22,717 square meters of land, including 13,218 square meters of manufacturing and warehousing space.

According to Travis Hurst, Managing Director of Colliers Bendigo, the interest has exceeded initial expectations, with inquiries from major agricultural corporations, secondary dairy processors, and logistics operators. The interested parties are currently undergoing due diligence, focusing on council approvals, zoning compliance, and essential utilities.

The property offers substantial financial incentives for brownfield repurposing compared to greenfield construction. Building a similar industrial facility from scratch in the region would require an estimated $50 million investment, whereas repurposing the existing site could be achieved for around $5 million in addition to the purchase price.

The site's value is further enhanced by its specialized infrastructure, including high-capacity power substations, which are costly to develop today. Located in the Campaspe Shire food manufacturing corridor, the sale of the Rochester plant is expected to follow successful regional industrial repurposing trends, similar to the transformation of the former Heinz tomato plant in nearby Girgarre.