Tamworth Regional Council has voted to sell the historic Mechanics Institute building in Tamworth’s CBD, which Mayor Russell Webb said was about ensuring the building was properly maintained.
The Mechanics Institute was built in 1866 as an educational facility and has housed various community groups during its 160-year history.
Most recently, it was home to Williamsburg, a burger restaurant, and, prior to that, the site of the Australian Country Music Foundation’s Hall of Fame. However, during its time as a restaurant, issues with the building were found, and the restaurant had to move out.
Cr Webb said previous councils had received offers to purchase the building but had decided not to sell at that time; however, maintaining the heritage-listed building was becoming costly.
“Whilst it was being occupied by Williamsburg, white ants were found in the floor, so Williamsburg had to move out and Council got a contractor to come in and replace the floor,” he said.
“It was a very costly exercise. It is very limited in what it can be used for, and we have no use for it at the moment.
“If Council keep it, they have no use for it. It will cost the ratepayers a fair bit of money to just have it there.”
Cr Webb said selling the building would allow Council to use the funds on things that would benefit the community.
“The money can be used for other community needs,” Cr Webb said.
“That will provide a better outcome for the community in the long run. We will be saving considerable money each year.”
The motion to sell the building has already been passed by Council.
“We will seek interest from real estate agents, select that agent, then they will develop a marketing plan and put the building on sale,” Cr Webb said.
Some residents have raised concerns about the future of the building, but Cr Webb said its heritage status protected the building.
“For those people who think it’s going to fall to rack and ruin, I can assure you it will be looked after,” he said.
“If they want to add to the building or to the grounds, it would have to go through the planning and heritage people.
“There are no real limitations to what they can and can’t do inside, but they wouldn’t be able to change it structurally.”
Cr Webb said the restaurant had adapted the insides of the building without compromising the heritage value.
“As with the hamburger joint, they installed all the bits and pieces – kitchen and seating,” he said.
Cr Webb said the sale represented an opportunity for private investment to preserve the building’s character while giving it a new lease on life.
“If someone wanted to buy the building, it’s a lovely looking old building,” he said.
“What you are buying is something pretty special. Nobody is going to buy that building and do anything with it other than maintain it. It is recycling an asset where somebody could use that asset in a good way and at the same time maintain its heritage and maintain its condition.”
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