The old flour mill site at 7-11 Keppel Street will soon be listed for sale, and some residents are calling for the site to be saved.

The site dates back to 1859 and includes a four-storey mill industrial building, grain silos and associated structures, including the Victoria Stores and the area that contains Bedwells Feed Barn.

While Tremain’s Mill officially ceased operations in the 1980s, a number of smaller business continue to operate out of the premises.

Bathurst 2036 Heritage Action Network spokesperson Sandy Bathgate said while the site is an “icon of Bathurst” and historically very important, redevelopment could be good for the city.

“Redevelopment of the site could be of benefit to Bathurst economically, providing its historical integrity was maintained and its iconic heritage buildings remained,” he said.

“Appropriate bulk and scale are key to any redevelopment, as it impacts on neighbours.”

Mr Bathgate said there would be opportunities for adaptive reuse of existing structures and for sympathetic new buildings.

“There would be opportunities for tourism ventures and for community. There would be the opportunity to create something really special,” he said.

Mr Bathgate said there had been “lost opportunities” at the Dairy Farmers site in Bathurst which is now being demolished and “valuable lessons” could be learnt for any redevelopment of Tremain’s Mill.

He has encouraged “constructive community discussion” on the site’s future development and urged people to be respectful to the current owner.

“This will not be an easy debate toward an economically viable site development, but it is vital if Bathurst is to maintain its character and continue its unique contribution as a national exemplar of regional urbanism and development,” Mr Bathgate said.

“The discussion is best framed in terms of the value of heritage and character uplift.”

Bathurst District Historical Society president Alan McRae said if there are changes, they should be a “practical, adaptive re-use” of the current structures.

“I certainly don’t want any demolition of the major structures,” he said.

Mr McRae said the similarly aged Crago Mill is a good example any developer could learn from.

“Crago Mill is being used for adaptive reuse rather than sitting empty,” he said.

The Crago Mill, also a flour mill, opened in 1906 and closed in 1954. Both mills were major employers in Bathurst during their era and were located in an area originally known as Mill Town.