One of the earlier renovations was described in the Geelong Advertiser in 1889: "The entrance to the yards from Ryrie Street for 120ft by a width of 40ft has been covered over by an arched roof of corrugated iron, and it forms now an ornamental approach to the premises, where the broken and unbroken horses are kept for sale. The old pens or sites used for the pig department of the yard have been removed and in their place 22 substantial pig pens have been constructed. These are of large dimensions, the flooring asphalted throughout, water laid on to each pen, and a complete system of effective drainage adopted. At present there is a cottage in the centre of the yards, which obscures the cattle pens from persons approaching from the Ryrie Street entrance. It is intended at no distant date to remove this obstruction and to continue the covered-in archway from Ryrie Street to Little Ryrie Street, and when that is effected, the yards will be found to be the most complete of their kind in the colony."