The historic building in lower Piper Street has sat derelict for decades, but that’s all changed.

The new Cafe@Crago Mill opened for business last Friday morning as the first stage of a grand plan to breathe new life into the precinct.

That plan includes cellar door sales, a marketplace, and music and dance studios for the 1906 building.

Glenn Todd at Crago Mill said it’s the culmination of a lot of work.

“We made it,” he said this week. “We’re off and running. We’re open and really have been encouraged by the response.

“We only opened on Friday, but on the Saturday morning there were a lot of people coming in to have a look around and see what all the fuss has been about.

“Getting the message out to the community is important now. We want everyone to know we’re a cafe and a lunch spot.”

Mr Todd said they anticipate opening the produce market and cellar door in the new year.

“We are planning on involving the local vignerons association,” he said. “It’s only early days, but Cafe@Crago Mill is phase one of the rebirth of this historic place into the cultural hub of Bathurst.”

Bathurst Regional Council passed a development application to secure the future of Crago Mill only last month.

Stage two of the project includes plans to use the premises for a regional produce market and a cellar door component with Winburndale Wines, as well as an extension of the cafe area.

Down the track, there’s room for retail office space – in fact, there are six levels to be used.

Environmental, planning and building services director David Shaw’s report to Bathurst Regional Council says the plans for Crago Mill include using the ground floor and mezzanine floors of the skillion annex as a retail market (for local produce, gifts and furniture); using a section of the ground floor of the skillion annex as a cellar door sales area; and extending the cafe seating area.