Plans to expand Skillset and Skillset Senior College will be made easier following the purchase of the expansive former National Australia Bank's William Street headquatres.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The building will now undergo a significant fit-out and refurbishment before Skillset relocates there once it is fully decommissioned.
The William Street building, adjacent to Bathurst Regional Council Chambers and the Bathurst Court House, was initially being offered for lease by Bathurst-based Elders Nicoll & Ireland principal David Nicoll before it was sold on May 31.
The iconic building at 103 William Street will cater to the expanding needs of Skillset's business services and corporate team and will provide space for additional learning and support areas for Skillset Senior College.
Skillset is the largest employer of apprentices and trainees in the Central West, offers apprentice and trainee support programs and guidance and also has a recruitment company that provides permanent recruitment and temporary labour hire.
According to Mr Nicoll this was a significant sale for the CBD with his company having sold the building to the NAB about 30 years ago.
"We're very proud to have represented the owners, and the property, so the building can have its next lease of life," he said.
"It's a fantastic property, a fabulous location and a beautiful outlook with very solid construction and Skillset will do a great job and offer some great services, it's a great thing for the town."
The building became available earlier this year after the National Australia Bank relocated its personal and business banking services after more than 30 years from William Street to Howick Street.
The bank allocated about $2.7 million to renovate the site at 171 Howick Street which recently opened its doors to serve personal and business customers from all around the region.
The new National Australia Bank site was previously the Commonwealth Bank's premises.
Mr Nicoll said Bathurst CBD is drawing a lot of interest from buyers and this represents "a strong vote of confidence" in the city.
"There's actually a lot of large corporate activity and negotiations going on in the CBD as we speak," he said.
"This NAB transaction is but the first of probably three or four large corporates negotiating on leases at the moment."
Mr Nicoll said he is currently dealing with a number of large corporate companies who are keen to get a foothold in the city, when the appropriate space becomes available, who view Bathurst as a good place to grow their businesses.
"It's a vibrant city that's got really strong growth numbers, great employment, fabulous education and sporting [opportunities] and it's a great place to bring up families," he said.
Tracey Prisk
I am a writer on the national property team and I cover real estate news in Orange, Bathust, Dubbo, Wagga and the Blue Mountains. I was previously the editor of the Central Western Daily for six years and before that worked as the CWD's chief of staff. During this time I also wrote feature stories for Country Style magazine. Before joining ACM I was a film writer and reviewer at the Sunday Telegraph. I was previously the editor of the film and television magazine Encore and also wrote for Broadcast Engineering News.
I am a writer on the national property team and I cover real estate news in Orange, Bathust, Dubbo, Wagga and the Blue Mountains. I was previously the editor of the Central Western Daily for six years and before that worked as the CWD's chief of staff. During this time I also wrote feature stories for Country Style magazine. Before joining ACM I was a film writer and reviewer at the Sunday Telegraph. I was previously the editor of the film and television magazine Encore and also wrote for Broadcast Engineering News.
