MITCHELL Conservatorium still has access to its beloved Orchard Room, but it's unlikely to be for much longer.
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In late 2019, it was reported that the NSW Department of Communities and Justice had asked Mitchell Conservatorium to vacate the Orchard Room by March 27, 2020 to make way for an expansion of the Bathurst Court House footprint.
Staff were scrambling to find a temporary replacement and they had to start thinking about the conservatorium's long-term home.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic gave the conservatorium, in some ways, a little more breathing room.
"The ability of the court house to make the developments it had to, that was curtailed by COVID," director of the conservatorium, Graham Sattler, said.
"All of that has been postponed due to COVID, so we haven't had to make any adjustments."
The conservatorium used the Orchard Room throughout 2020, which made things a little easier in what was a difficult year.
"It has been a glimmer of brightness during the very, very difficult time people had to experience during COVID. It has been a relief in that sense," Mr Sattler said.
"We are grateful that we didn't have to do that move."
However, with staff and students set to return in late January, the prospect of moving is back on the table.
Mr Sattler said "we don't anticipate we'll be in [the Orchard Room] this year" and indicated the conservatorium was preparing for a partial move across the street.
The conservatorium was in talks with All Saints' Cathedral 12 months ago to arrange a space to take over from the Orchard Room.
Mr Sattler said that is considered a medium-term option.
"They are 100 per cent supportive there and we are thrilled that when we have to make that change we can take up that offer," he said.
Long-term options for the entire conservatorium are still being considered.
"We are enthusiastically looking at our future premises options in Bathurst," Mr Sattler said.