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Goulburn Airport in southern NSW has been put up for sale after more than a decade in private hands.
The general aviation airport, which has been owned by Goulburn businessman John Ferrara since 2011, has been listed for sale through real estate firm Ashby York as Ferrara looks to divest from his property portfolio. Ferrara also owns the Goulburn Flight Training Centre.
“I am retiring, so I am selling everything that I have around the airport as one package,” Ferrara told Riotact in January.
Sitting on 118 hectares of land, the airport includes one paved and one grass runway, as well as a helipad and fuelling stations plus amenities such as a motel, cafe, and hangars.
Located 7km south of Goulburn, it is near major transport routes such as the M1 motorway, and its proximity to Canberra has led it to be floated as a freight hub for the capital region.
Steven Westlake, principal at Ashby York, has described the airport as “a premier investment opportunity in the aviation sector”.
“With its strategic location, versatile infrastructure, and development potential, Goulburn Airport is primed for continued success and growth in the regional aviation landscape as well as providing economic regional opportunities for the community,” he said.
In a media release, Ashby York noted the opportunity to acquire an extra 1871 acres next to the airport, offering “ample space for expansion and development projects”.
“Moreover, the property offers a unique opportunity for potential investors with its SP2 zoning, designating it as a ‘special purpose’ zone aimed at safeguarding infrastructure and supporting related uses. This zoning underscores the airport’s pivotal role in regional transportation,” the firm said.
“An added advantage is the approved 10-lot subdivision adjacent to the taxiway delta, offering block sizes ranging from 520 square metres to 1430 square metres, providing additional avenues for revenue generation and expansion.”
Ferrara, who originally bought the airport 13 years ago from Goulburn City Council for $2.5 million, has been in a long-running stoush with users of the airport’s hangars over taxiway and runway fees.
He told Riotact that, though he had made a number of improvements since buying the airport, it has yet to be developed to its full potential.
“You have to spend a lot of money to make money. Money makes money. If you want to spend a few hundred million, you can make money out of anything,” he said.
Expressions of interest are open until 30 March.
