Australian Abattoirs

Other Names

• Cudgeong abattoir

Current Operation

Location   

• Mudgee is located 120 kilometres north of Lithgow in NSW on the western side of the Great Dividing range.
  

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

• Cudgegong Shire Council ( ? – 1988)¹
• Flectcher International exports – 1988¹

Operation   

• Last council-owned meatworks to survive the rationalisation of the meat processing industry¹

History

1965

• Built as a service works for local butchers²

1981

• Roger Flectcher – started his meat processing career when he leased the boning room at Mudgee and operated until 1988² when he built Dubbo abattoir (NSW)

1996

• Up to half of NSW abattoirs could close with the loss of up to 5,000 jobs¹
  • abattoirs are outdated and inefficent¹
  • Beef export abattoirs at Wingham (NSW), Mudgee (NSW), Gunnedah (NSW) and Inverell (NSW) are most at risk to close¹
  • Small number of modernised plants likely to survive restructuring Young (NSW), Cootamundra (NSW), Gundagai (NSW), Culcairn (NSW), Harden (NSW)¹
  • Handful of efficient and niche market operators insulated from fall out Casino (NSW), Macksville (NSW), Scone (NSW) and Lismore (NSW)¹
  • New privately owned and speciality sheep plants such as Goulburn (NSW) and Dubbo (NSW) killing 60% of NSW mutton are examples of what can be achieved by investment in capital¹
  • Increased US beef into previous Australian market share in Japan, Korea and Taiwan increased pressure¹
  • Live export of 500,000 cattle to Indonesia and Philippines increased pressure on operations of beef processing abattoirs¹
• Authors Note – Majority of live export cattle during this period would have been Bos Indicus or crosses to South East Asia markets, sourced from mainly northern Australia. Not animals suited to heavy slaughter in Australia and from herds whos’ production was not likely destined for abattoirs in NSW.

Source – Live Cattle Exports. Australian Commodities Vol 5 #2 June 1998

 Chart showing the high volume of South East Asia live cattle export destinations period 1990 – 1998

2003

• August. Mothballed¹
• Had employed 230 people¹
• Accumulated debts of $13M, had appointed an administrator.²
• 2002/2003 processed²
  • 32,000 cattle²
  • 600,000 sheep, lambs and goats²
  • 1,300 deer²
• Liquidator – Steve Parberry of PPB chartered accountants²
• Tender Sale conducted by David Nolan Rural and Project marketing²
• Previous 5 years of operation it had worked almost entirely for 5 major export customers including²
  • Mudgee co-op for sheep²
  • Melbourne beef processor – GH Keily²
• December. Purchased by Fletcher International Exports.¹
  • Fletchers own Dubbo abattoir (NSW) and Katanning (WA)
• Would be atleast a year or later before the plant will be sufficently renovated to enable operation¹
  • $3M rebuilding program at the plant¹
    • New freezers would need to be installed to allow for more freezer capacity¹
    • the current coal-fired boilers need to be replaced with natural gas to cut operating costs¹
    • Beef line was good, boning room had heavy investment¹
    • Utilise as a single species abattoir – beef¹
      • enable plant better chance to survive as cattle numbers not as severely depleted due to drought¹

Sources

1. ‘Abattoirs revived’ Stock and Land 24.12.2003
2. ‘Meatworks jobs saved’ The Land 25.12.2003
3. 5,000 jobs at risk:Abattoirs facing closure’ Sydney Morning Herald. 21.05.1996