Who will buy the town’s sole transient accommodation block?
The property has been for sale for a month and Tall Poppy real estate agent Peter Hishon said he had received several inquiries.
"It is a great opportunity for someone and there’s a massive need for ... accommodation for people passing through to stay."
He said the district lacked this style of housing and the backpackers had room for 29 people within its nine rooms.
Mr Hishon goes into bat for the seasonal workers and travellers the property could attract to the area.
"I love it and they bring a lot of vibrancy to the town and a lot of them do spend money here — they’re not all eating veggies at the back of a van."
The property’s outgoing owners, also orchardists, had only owned it a short time and were now building accommodation on-site instead.
In this year’s Central Otago District Council’s annual residents’ survey released in late October, 16 respondents noted that housing was a barrier to economic development.
Two people specifically raised the idea of seasonal accommodation.
According to an estimate from Radio New Zealand, Central Otago orchards employ 5000 people every year. One local grower said their employees would "struggle" to find somewhere to stay if the grower did not supply it themselves.
Jill Mansell, of Jackson Orchards in Cromwell, has provided accommodation for 70 workers for more than 20 years.
"You have to or you won’t get people — there’s a lot of people coming into the area and there is a shortage of accommodation."
More recently, Jackson Orchards had started hiring extra cabins for staff.
Jackson Orchards had used former motel units relocated from Queenstown, which have 12 rooms and can fit up to three people.
Although tight-lipped on inquiries, Mr Hishon said potential buyers might have different uses for the property.
