By Renee Wood
The historic HCP building and property will be going to auction next month as the Britt family looks to let go of the site.
The decision has come after Max Britt passed away in December.
Max’s son Darren said the site holds a lot of local history.
“It will have a lot of memories for a lot of people, the drinks part especially for the town,” he said.
The site most recently has been used as an antique emporium but it was once a thriving hive of activity, providing great employment to local residents producing soft drinks.
It was first known as a successful camping spot, set up by the Frogley family as Healesville Camping Park in 1938.
After World War II, the Frogleys turned it into another stream of revenue, reinventing the Badger Creek Road site as a local soft drink capital and in 1947 it was renamed, Healesville Cordial Products.
The decision was made due to the market demand because soft drink companies didn’t deliver to the Yarra Valley.
Darren said his father Max worked in the drinks company in the 70s and his parents were interested in the property as they also owned acreage next door.
Max and wife Lynette purchased the property in 1986 and continued to operate HCP as it was known.
Darren said it then became difficult to continue with local cordial as Schweppes and Coca-Cola started to discount their wholesale items to local supermarkets.
Soon after, the business went into liquidation and in 1993 it was transformed into the HCP Antique Emporium, where several stall holders were based.
Max was conducting furniture restoration at the site up until the middle of the 2000s.
Darren said in recent years it has only operated informally as an antique store and after his father’s passing the family decided it was time to let go of HCP.
The 81 Badger Creek Rd, Healesville property of five acres will be going up to auction on April 9th and it’s expected to reach a sale price in the millions.
Darren said it would be nice to see it return to its roots and be used for some type of industry, like a “Four Pillars type of business”.
“It’s in a prime position on the road to the Sanctuary, not far from town, and big acreage. Where do you get that in Healesville nowadays?”
For now, the family is clearing out the antiques that remain, open weekday afternoons and throughout the weekend.
Darren said there are many items still available from furniture to pottery, glassware and more.
“Everything is extremely cheap, make us your best offer and we’ll accept.”
