Echidna Gully, a former beloved function venue at Metz, has been purchased by Larvotto Resources to provide accommodation for its growing workforce as it prepares to re-open the Hillgrove mine and begin production in 2026.
Chief Operating Officer of Larvotto Resources, Sonja Neame, said the acquisition of Echidna Gully provides a ready-made solution to meet the needs of contract and short-term workers, without disrupting the Hillgrove township.
“Echidna Gully is unique in that it’s already established, close to the mine site, and doesn’t impact on the Hillgrove village. It’s a beautiful spot and a perfect fit for our needs.”
While most of the company’s workforce is expected to reside in Armidale, the property will provide overflow housing and flexible accommodation for contractors.
“Ideally, we would like a local workforce, and don’t want to run a fly-in-fly-out operation. But we also recognise that some specialist roles can’t always be filled locally, and may require short-term accommodation.”
The purchase coincides with Larvotto’s plans to ramp up recruitment and community engagement in the region, with around 250 new jobs anticipated over the next 12 months once operating at full capacity.
“We are committed to employing local as a priority, and supporting local business wherever we can. We already use local businesses and see a lot of opportunity to grow that further,” Ms Neame said.
“We also want to encourage people to live locally and to make Armidale home,” she said. “It’s a great community with terrific schools and infrastructure. The mine gives us a chance to support jobs and families here.”
Long-term focus for the mine
The reopening of the dual-purpose Hillgrove Antimony-Gold Project positions Hillgrove to become Australia’s largest antimony producer, with expectations it will supply 7% of global antimony demand.
After acquiring the mine in 2023 following the previous operator entering administration, Larvotto launched an intensive drilling program to determine the mine’s feasibility.
“Our definitive feasibility study projects an eight-year mine life based on the current known resources. We have four drill rigs currently on site, so we do anticipate the mine life to increase,” Ms Neame said.
Community presence
In addition to the site development, Larvotto has opened the Hillgrove Hub – a walk-in shop front information centre on Beardy Street in Armidale where residents can learn more about the project or enquire about upcoming roles.
“We’ve had our official opening of the Hillgrove Hub, a drop-in place for people to find out what’s happening with the mine or drop off their resumes during weekdays and Saturdays.
“We’re also hosting community meets at the Hillgrove Community Centre to meet with locals and let them know what’s happening.”
The company will also establish an exploration office in the new industrial estate near the Armidale Airport to house its geology team and support core processing.
“It’s about keeping operations close to the region, making it easier to attract and retain local talent, and build something sustainable.”
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