Allan Golding – moving on
14 March 2008
We may be seeing more of Allan Golding now that he is no longer doing business in the main street. Allan has been moving out of his offices in the Old Bootmakers Shop in the past week or so, but will continue to offer his services locally as a development consultant and project manager, as well as running a few head of cattle.
Allan started working in the main street back in 1968 as manager of the Dalgetys operation in Hall. The Hall Stockyards were still in operation at this time, and part of Allan's work was conducting auctions at the yards. The yards closed around 1973. (Remnants of the yards can be seen in the paddock at the top end of Alexandra Street).
In 1971 he and Ian Roseby set up business in rural supplies and real estate as 'Golding Roseby' – Allan specializing in the real estate side of the business. Rural subdivision across the ACT border began that year, and kept 'Golding Roseby' busy as new small acreage blocks were opened up at some pace. Most of the district roads came into existence from this time; even the Wallaroo Road previously came to an end well short of the river.
In December 1983 Senator Margaret Reid officially opened the offices that Allan has occupied ever since – the reconstructed Bootmakers Cottage – and Allan Golding Real Estate was established. The original building dates from 1907, and is prominent in early photographs of Victoria Street.
Allan is a Justice of the Peace, and has had a range of involvements in local community organizations. This includes service on the committee of the Hall Progress Association, the School P&C, the Wallaroo Bushfire Brigade, and the Hall Polocrosse Club, of which he was a founding member and later President. Allan Golding Pty Ltd has long been a valued supporter of the 'Rural Fringe'.
One regret is that his 'green book' – a comprehensive record of all property sales in the district that he was involved in – was stolen, along with other valuables, in a 2006 break-in.
We congratulate Allan on his forty years at work in our main street – twenty five of them running his own real estate business – and thank him for his service to the community. Our best wishes for the next phase of your life Allan!
[No dust will gather in the Old Bootmakers Shop. Simon Southwell is already well installed there as the Principal for Ray White Rural]