Gabrielle Duykers, Naracoorte Community News

A Victorian kelpie has snagged the highest bid at South Australia’s first working dog auction, selling for $29,000.

On September 26, the inaugural Lucindale Working Dog Auction was held in Yakka Park and saw more than 400 people in attendance.

Of the 30 kelpies up for grabs, two-and-a-half-year-old Josie took home the top sale price. 

Owner Alistair Leonard from Balmoral, Victoria, said he had expected her to do well due to her extensive skill set. 

“She’s a single-handed worker, she’s reliable on her own in any task, and she’s a good team dog,” Mr Leonard said.

“She’s been one of my main dogs since she was 13 months old.”

Josie was bought by sheep producers from Lascelles, Victoria.

The national working dog sale record currently stands at $35,200, set at the Casterton Working Dog Auction in June 2021. 

Lucindale Working Dog Auction treasurer Kylie Ware said the town was a prime spot for the new event. 

“The area that we live in is really quite largely farming-based, and a lot of farmers have dogs so we thought it made sense,” Mrs Ware said. 

“The support so far has been amazing.”

More than 60 per cent of the working dogs sold on the day were purchased by South Australians. 

“It just goes to show the need for (this event) in our own state,” Mrs Ware said. “It’s really convenient to have something here.”

The auction also served as a community fundraiser, with all sale commissions set to be invested in a local project. 

The total sum of funds and chosen project recipient are yet to be determined. 

Mrs Ware said the LWDA would become an annual event that she hoped would bring people from “near and far” to Lucindale.

This article appeared in Naracoorte Community News, 6 October 2021.