More than 100 staff, including 80 full-time workers, were made redundant less than a month after the abattoir went into voluntary administration.

Administrators informed staff of the decision at 11 am yesterday.

An emotional Stan Lang, managing director of Penney and Lang, said he never thought he'd see the day when the company was closed down.

He praised the positive attitude of staff.

"Today the announcement was made by a union representative to all the staff, that was at 11 this morning," Mr Lang said. "They (the staff) have been very good. This will affect more people than just here. "The local butcher shop . . . all those people who have had 100 per cent production here have to go somewhere else to have their animals slaughtered and brought back.

"Centrelink workers are here for the staff on their way out, if they wish to speak to them. We will do all we can for them."He said the majority of workers came from Maryborough and surrounding district.

Thirty-six-year-old father of two Dean Hill has never had another job.

He started at Penney and Lang at 16 and now fears for his future.

"I've been here 20 years," Mr Hill said.

"I'm registering with Centrelink and then start looking again.

"I've just got to hope there's something there, not much else I can do."Local businesses are sure to feel the affect of the closure with $80,000 in wages now to be missing from weekly trade.

Staff were packing up their belongings and leaving the Carisbrook premises for the last time yesterday. Mr Lang said the company was formed in 1967 and been a vital source of employment in the Maryborough area.

Note: Penney and Lang Wholesale Meats is not affected by the closure decision. Mr Lang said the separate entity was "going as strong as ever".