The iconic Mudgee Town Hall will reopen at noon on Thursday, following extensive renovations and expansions to the Mudgee Library and the upstairs Town Hall Theatre.
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NSW Governor and Acting Governor General Professor Marie Bashir will join Mid-Western Region mayor Des Kennedy to open the Town Hall, along with special guests including federal parliamentarians Joel Fitzgibbon and Mark Coulton, Member for Orange Andrew Gee and Frances Sims from the State Library of NSW.
“This is a public event and we invite everyone to come along and have a look at the work that has been done,” said council general manager Warwick Bennett.
Mr Bennett said the grand opening was an ideal opportunity for locals to see the renovations and preservation of an iconic heritage building.
“The Town Hall is listed by the National Trust of Australia, which is a clear indicator of what a significant building this is,” Mr Bennett said.
“The laying of the foundation stone in August 1880 was a huge event, signalling the importance of the town, and the event was celebrated with considerable ceremony.”
The Town Hall was the centre for council planning and local government in the region for almost 100 years until the 1970s.
“The theatre on the top level of the building has been in continuous use for almost 130 years. Despite extensions and changes made since the late 1970s, the footprint of the original 1881 ground floor layout is still readily evident,” Mr Bennett said.
“We are very pleased to have maintained the heritage of the building.”
The works completed through 2012 and early 2013 have included a doubling of the library space; improvements such as a new elevator to increase accessibility; and a refurbishment of the original building including new equipment and furniture for the Town Hall Theatre.
While the majority of the $4 million project has been funded by council, assistance was also provided by the Library Council of New South Wales, the NSW State Government and the Federal Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
More information about the official opening can be found on Council’s website www.midwestern.nsw.gov.au or by calling 6378 2850.