ALBURY’S Turks Head building will be transformed into a photography hub and gallery cafe under a plan approved by council this week.
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Chiltern-based photographer Dirk Wallace was revealed as the successful bidder under an expressions of interest campaign launched by council two years for the property which opened in 1840 as the Union Bridge Hotel.
It was also the city’s museum before the Library-Museum in central Albury was created. Mr Wallace, who has been teaching photography at Murray Art Museum Albury for three years, will create a hub for photographers with gallery, studio, darkroom, print centre and artists’ residence.
His plans are subject to development application approval and agreeing to lease terms with council which has committed to funding three all abilities toilets in the building.
Mr Wallace said he had his sights on the building for more than two years and coincidentally photographed it as part of a recent photography project.
“Because I’m interested in running a gallery and photography hub there is not a lot that needs to happen to the building. It’s the perfect building for what I want to do,” he said.
He expects it to take three months to refurbish the building and hopes to be open later this year.
Albury Council considered two options for the Turks Head building in a confidential session on Monday night with the other interested party wanting to create a small tavern.
The council meeting minutes revealed Cr Murray King wanted to defer a decision on the Turks Head building lease until it came up with a master-plan for the area which would be submitted back to council in September.
His motion seconded by Cr John Stuchbery was lost.
“I didn’t want us to fill the vacancy for the sake of filling the vacancy because it has been vacant since 2006,” Cr King said.
