Tabro Meat not quite sold yet

Central to the deal is the retention of its licences and accreditations, which provide access to critical export markets, including China.

While the signage is shabby, the plant itself has been well preserved, former workers say, and if the sale can be finalised, Lance Creek could be operational again in weeks.

The Lance Creek plant fell silent on October 31, 2017, just 3.5 years after Chinese owners, Hengyang Group, acquired it from founder Tage 'Ted' Brorsen.

The Brorsen family had built Tabro Meat into a thriving business with facilities in Lance Creek and Moe that processed 650 head of cattle daily.

When Tage Brorsen decided to retire in 2013, Tabro Meat was valued at $25 million.

The business hit turbulence after its sale to HY Australia holdings in 2014.

There were high hopes for the new direction, with the company investing around $13 million in facility upgrades.

But volatility hit the new owners hard, with cattle prices doubling less than two years after the sale.

By 2016, the Tabro Meat business was showing signs of stress.

Its 100-strong workforce was being forced to take extended time off while farmers and agents were experiencing long and erratic payment arrangements.

In October 2017, HW Greenham & Sons purchased the Moe plant but no buyer was found for Lance Creek.

Another Chinese-owned company, Harmony Agriculture and Food Co, looked set to buy it in 2018 but after the deal fell over, Harmony also went into liquidation.

One of those hopeful Lance Creek will re-open this year is Phelan Henderson & Co livestock agent David Phelan, Yarram.

"Hopefully someone has bought it and it does get up and running because it's a big asset to the South Gippsland community," Mr Phelan said.

"They kill a lot of cows and, when old Teddy was running it, it was run very efficiently and they were a great support in the marketplace.

"Every extra buyer is a help.

"It's no so much now but it's when things get tough that you miss those extra players in the market."

"We never, ever, ever had a problem in Teddy Brorsen's time.

"In 20 years, I don't think I had to ring there looking for a cheque.

"When the Chinese took over, they did have some issues with their cash flow but we all emerged unscathed in the finish.

"Other than missing out on some interest they said they were going to pay, we came out with all the hairs on our heads."