The burgeoning cultural precinct around Bathurst Railway Station has just gained an invaluable new tenant: the Mitchell Conservatorium, or MitCon for short.
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On Monday, the state government announced MitCon as the new tenant for 130 Havannah Street [the former site of the Bathurst Railway District Engineers offices] on a community lease, with a grand opening scheduled for Friday, July 9.
MitCon executive director Graham Sattler said the new site is "absolutely ideal" to further music tuition, performance and promotion in the Bathurst community.
"This area is really developing as a cultural precinct, and we are thrilled to start contributing to it," Dr Sattler said.
"The site is all on one level for ease of access, it's on the edge of the CBD, so it's very exciting to both be moving to an ever-growing cultural hub, and to have our future confirmed."
In late 2019, MitCon was notified by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice that they would need to vacate the Orchard Room, a significant portion of their current site, to make way for the Bathurst Court House's expansion.
After calling the west wing of the Court House home for 43 years, Dr Sattler said the new Havannah Street site will allow MitCon to further spread its wings.
"We were becoming more and more limited at the Court House with its ongoing expansion, and this new space is truly a blessing; its expanded our available room by 20 per cent," he said.
MitCon joins the growing list of vibrant cultural attractions situated near Bathurst Railway Station, including The Victoria Bathurst, the Tremain's Mill precinct and the Bathurst Rail Museum.
"We truly feel like we're helping fill in the dots," Dr Sattler said.
"The whole precinct is easily walkable for visitors: the Rail Museum will be our next door neighbour, The Vic and Tremain's Mill are only a stone's throw away, and with Crago Mill also seeking new tenants, there's sure to be exciting times ahead."
![STATE SEAL OF APPROVAL: Mitchell Conservatorium vice-chair Ben Gelin, chair Andrew Smith and executive director Graham Sattler [right] with Bathurst MP Paul Toole.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/xry9xtRQu9u36zRV2j5976/67cafb05-644d-4dd4-b0ce-d33d16ea8f65.JPG/r1228_224_3737_1738_w576_h298_fmax.webp "STATE SEAL OF APPROVAL: Mitchell Conservatorium vice-chair Ben Gelin, chair Andrew Smith and executive director Graham Sattler [right] with Bathurst MP Paul Toole.")
MitCon employs more than 50 professionals and will have about 39 staff working at the new location over its operating periods.
Bathurst MP Paul Toole said MitCon was recommended by John Holland Rail as the ideal tenant for the premises, and was subsequently approved by Transport for NSW.
"MitCon is a foundation member of the Association of NSW Regional Conservatoriums and are committed to furthering the enjoyment of, appreciation for, and access to quality music activity for its communities," Mr Toole said.
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"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
