Completion of the centre is on schedule for a soft opening for sponsors the week before Christmas.

Fight Cancer Foundation managing director Eric Wright said he wanted the name to describe the natural setting of the centre, which is rapidly taking shape next to the Albury hospital at the foot of Eastern hill.

“We didn’t want the word cancer in the name, we wanted something to do with the landscape,” Mr Wright said.

“The progress of the place is exciting and scary at the same time.

“There’s still furniture, beds, sheets and pillows to go.

“I reckon we’re on track to have it open before Christmas.”

Mr Wright and site manager Mark Simon took The Border Mail on a tour of the three-storey 

L-shaped centre this week. 

With construction of the 20 guest suites, including two disabled-friendly rooms, all but complete, work is focused on the finer details.

Mr Simon said he was hopeful the top floor would be finished within two weeks.

Granite kitchen benches have been fitted and tiling of the outside balconies is nearly complete.

Vinyl has been laid in wet areas and the corridors and bedroom floors will soon be carpeted, while painting of the hallways is also imminent.

Mr Wright said feature colours on the walls and decorative curves on the roof would ensure Hilltop didn’t feel like a medical building.

“We’re trying to avoid people feeling like they’re in a hospital,” he said.

“Rather we want them to feel like they’re in a nice hotel.

“The whole idea is to make the place feel more like home.”

Mr Wright’s favourite area of the building, the third storey dining area and balcony, will be known as “the hub”.

With the scaffolding steadily coming down around the outside of the building, power remains one of the last steps before its completion.